Chemical synthesis and synthesis reactors
The present disclosure relates to chemical synthesis. The teachings thereof may be embodied in methods for chemical synthesis and/or reactors for synthesis. The teaching may increase the conversion of equilibrium-limited reactions in a single pass through a synthesis reactor. For example, a method may include: introducing a synthesis reactant into a reaction chamber with a prevailing pressure p1; forming a synthesis product; discharging the product and any unreacted reactant; separating the product from the unreacted reactant; and introducing the unreacted reactant into a second reaction chamber with a prevailing pressure p2 lower than the pressure p1.
1. A method of conducting a chemical synthesis, the method comprising:
introducing a fluid synthesis reactant into a carrier liquid present in a reaction chamber with a prevailing chamber pressure pl;
forming a synthesis product in the reaction chamber consuming at least part of the synthesis reactant;
drawing the synthesis product and any unreacted synthesis reactant as vapors from the reaction chamber;
separating the synthesis product from the unreacted synthesis reactant; and
introducing the unreacted synthesis reactant into a second reaction chamber with a prevailing chamber pressure p 2 lower than the pressure p 1 .
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second reaction chambers are connected by a heat pipe; and
a heat of reaction resulting from formation of the synthesis product is exchanged between the reaction chambers.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe passes out of at least one of the first or second reaction chambers, and heat energy is removed therefrom.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the synthesis reactant is converted at least in part to the synthesis product within the carrier liquid.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising supplying a particulate catalyst to the carrier liquid.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carrier liquid comprises an oil.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second reaction chambers comprise fixed bed reactors with a catalyst; and
reaction of synthesis reactant to the synthesis product takes place in the gas phase.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second reaction chambers comprise fluidized bed reactors with a catalyst;
a gas stream flowing in from the bottom fluidizes a bed comprising catalyst material; and
reaction of synthesis reactant to the synthesis product takes place in the gas phase.