Tube bundle falling film microreactor for performing gas liquid reactions

1. A tube bundle falling film microreactor for performing gas-liquid reactions, comprising:

a) at least one vertical falling film tube having upper and lower cones respectively mounted at upper and lower ends of the tube,

b) a device for distributing the liquid on an inside of the tube,

c) a liquid collecting system, and

d) a device for gas supply and removal.

2. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 1 , which comprises a common casing, and no more than 1000 of vertical falling film tubes in the common casing.

3. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one vertical falling film tube has an internal diameter of from 0.5 to 100 mm and a length of from 100 to 1000 mm.

4. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device for distributing the liquid on the inside of the at least one vertical falling film tube is selected from a gap, an overflow edge or a distributor system with a small structure.

5. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the device for distributing the liquid is a gap which is formed by the cone at the upper end of the falling film tube.

6. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the upper cone is fixed in a threaded guide to allow a width of the gap to be varied by screwing the upper cone higher or lower relative to the upper end of the tube.

7. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid collecting system includes a collecting vessel in the form of a ring or shell, and a line by means of which the liquid is drawn off.

8. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gas is supplied to and removed from the tube bundle by orifices in the upper and lower cones.

9. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 1 , comprising gas and liquid systems wherein gas and liquid are each respectively distributed and collected via a separate entrance and exit, such that the gas and liquid are completely separated from one another outside the at least one vertical falling film tube, there being a pressure equalization between the exit for the liquid and the gas system.

10. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inside of the at least one vertical falling film tube includes microstructures or an alternative surface structure which is obtained by at least one of hand sanding with sandpaper, machining, engraving, dry or wet grinding, brushing, sandblasting, shotblasting, laser engraving, etching or pickling, and the action of glass beads.

11. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one falling film tube includes random packings for reducing gas space therein.

12. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the random packings include at least one of a star-shaped insert which is in contact only with the gas space, an insert which both has contact with the gas space and is wetted with the liquid, tubes closed at both ends and a double tube with radial bores.

13. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the random packings include tubes closed at both ends, and wherein the tubes closed at both ends are used for additional cooling of the microreactor and/or are wetted with a liquid film, such that two falling films are capable of being generated in each individual tube, one on the inside of the falling film tube and one on an outside of the random packings.

14. The tube bundle falling film microreactor as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the random packings include a double tube with radial bores which is used simultaneously as a gas inlet and outlet.