Substitution of defective reactor units in a continuous chemical process - comprising transferring energy between the out-going and new reactor units, e.g. in high temp. catalytic hydrogen prodn.

摘要

Process for exchanging a reactor (10A) in a chemical plant, whose operational temp differs from its non-operational temp, is novel in that energy from a previously operational reactor (10A) is transferred to a new chemical reactor (10B) and the former reactor (10A) is substituted by the new chemical reactor. A changeover unit bearing bracket (60) allows a heat-transfer medium (eg inert gas) from a storage vessel (66) to be circulated, via the lines (62,63,64,65) and a blower (67), around the outgoing unit (10A) and the replacement reactor unit (10B) in order to more quickly bring the latter up to, or closer to, the required operating temp. USE/ADVANTAGE - Process is used for replacing a defective chemical reactor, especially in high temp processes eg catalytic hydrogen production. Shortened changeover time by simultaneously transferring energy (ie heat, or in some cases electrical energy) from the reaction unit being taken off-line to the replacement unit being brought on-line.