Method and tube bundle reactor for carrying out endothermic and exothermic gas phase reactions

1. In a method for carrying out endothermic or exothermic gas phase reactions by using a tube bundle reactor with a tube bundle of catalyst-filled reaction tubes, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) introducing only one reaction gas mixture into the reaction tubes;

(b) dividing the reaction gas mixture flow flowing through each of the reaction tubes into at least two partial flows, each partial flow having the same composition;

(c) feeding each partial flow at a different point along the catalyst filling with an existing flow resistance;

the improvement comprising the additional following steps:

(d) feeding each partial flow at points along the catalyst filling at which the velocity of flow of the reaction gas mixture in the catalyst filling falls below a predetermined value;

(e) determining the desired partial flow volume for each partial flow (V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 );

(f) calculating the pressure at the point of the first division of the reaction gas mixture;

(g) calculating the pressure in the catalyst filling at the feeding point of each partial flow (V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4 ); and

(h) setting of flow resistance for each feeding point in such a way that the flow resistance at the desired partial flow volume corresponds to the pressure difference between the pressures determined in steps (e) and (f).

2. Method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first division is performed before the catalyst filling.

3. Method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first partial flow (V 1 ) is fed into the front region of the catalyst filling.

4. Method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first partial flow (V 1 ) is fed into the front surface of the catalyst filling.

5. Method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first division is performed in the catalyst filling.

6. In a tube bundle reactor for carrying out endothermic or exothermic gas phase reactions, comprising a tube bundle of catalyst-filled reaction tubes, the one ends of which are spanned by a gas inlet hood and the other ends of which are spanned by a gas outlet hood and through each of which a reaction gas mixture flows and each of which has a feeding device that is at least partially embedded in the catalyst filling and that divides up the reaction gas mixture flow flowing through the reaction tube into at least two partial flows, the reaction gas mixture being introduced only through the gas inlet hood, said partial flows having the same composition and said feeding device comprising means for feeding each partial flow at different points along the catalyst filling at an existing flow resistance, the improvement wherein said means for feeding each partial flow are disposed at points along the catalyst filling at which the velocity of flow of the reaction gas mixture in the catalyst filling falls below a predetermined value and are adapted to set the flow resistance in such a manner that, at each feeding point and at a desired partial flow volume specified for each respective point, the flow resistance corresponds to the pressure difference between the pressure at the point of the first division of the reaction gas mixture flow and the pressure in the catalyst filling at the feed point.

7. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the feeding device protrudes from the reaction tube.

8. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the feeding device is arranged recessed in the reaction tube.

9. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the feeding device protrudes from the catalyst filling.

10. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the feeding device is recessed in the catalyst filling.

11. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the feeding device is formed as at least one feeder tube that is located centrically in the reaction tube and has in its wall gas outlet orifices at the feed points.

12. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the feeding device comprises throttles each having a specified flow resistance.

13. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the throttles are essentially formed by the gas outlet orifices.

14. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the throttles are formed as throttle ports that open into a recess in the outer wall of the respective feeder tube.

15. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the throttles are substantially formed as longitudinal ports in each feeder tube upstream of the respective gas outlet orifices.

16. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the flow resistance required at each feed point is substantially formed through friction losses in each feeder tube.

17. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the flow resistance required at each feed point is formed by at least one of (1) a combination of throttles selected from the group consisting of throttles formed by the gas outlet orifices, throttles formed as throttle parts that open into a recess in the outer wall of the respective feeder tube, and throttles formed as longitudinal ports in each feeder tube upstream of the respective gas outlet orifices, and (2) friction losses in each feeder tube.

18. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the feeding device comprises several feeder tubes.

19. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the feeder tubes have different lengths, wherein each partial flow (V2, V3, V4) flows through an associated feeder tube, and wherein each feeder tube ends at its feed point and has orifices there.

20. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the feeder tubes are inserted into each other concentrically.

21. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the feeder tubes are inserted into each other.

22. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 6 , wherein a particle filter is provided at the gas inlet of the feeding device.

23. Tube bundle reactor as claimed in claim 6 , wherein, additionally to the feeding device, at least one device is provided for increasing the pressure drop in the reaction tubes.