Internally cooled converter process

The estimates of Table XI, except those in the first three rows, are based on very meager amounts of data and therefore are only preliminary approximations. As may be seen in Table XI, the internally cooled converter process, in its present (1947) stage of development, has a space-time yield about two-thirds of that of the fluidized iron catalyst process with about 30% more steel necessary for installing of the converter and its auxiliary equipment. The I.C.C. process is quite versatile in that various types of catalyst, and a variety of operating pressures may be used. The product distribution can be varied, therefore, over a wide range. 

In Haldor Tops0e s ammonia and methanol synthesis processes a series of adiabatic beds with indirect cooling between the beds is normally used, at least in large plants. In smaller plants internally cooled reactors are considered. In ammonia synthesis, the Tops0e solution is today the so-called S-200 converter (Fig. 7) and L6j. This converter type, which is a further development of the S-100 quench-type converter, was developed in the mid seventies the first industrial unit was started up in 1978, and today about 20 are in operation or on order. Both the S-100 and the S-200 reactors are radial flow reactors. The radial flow principle offers some very specific advantages compared to the more normal axial flow. It does, however, also require special catalyst properties. The advantages of the radial flow principle and the special requirements to the catalyst are summarized in Table 5. 

Molten Carbonate A flue-gas desulfurization process in which the sulfur dioxide contacts a molten mixture of inorganic carbonates. These are converted to sulfates and sulfides and then reduced to hydrogen sulfide, which is treated in a Claus kiln. The advantage of this process over most others is that it does not cool the flue gases. Developed by Rockwell International but not commercialized. 

The International Nickel Company developed a method to refine impure nickel sulfide anodes directly to metal, using mixed sulfate-chloride electrolyte [45]. Nickel sulfide (cz-Nf ) anodes can be cast directly from low-copper converter matte or from melted nickel sulfide concentrate produced by the matte separation process. Controlled cooling is necessary to produce anodes with the required mechanical properties. The cooling of anodes can take up to 36 hours. Using nickel sulfide anodes eliminates the intermediate roasting of the sulfide... 

High temperature fuel cells (MCFC and SOFC) allow for the reforming process to take place inside the fuel cell stack which lowers the requirement for cell cooling and reduces cost due to absence of the external reformer vessel. A future SOFC application could also be the production of hydrogen (and electricity) by internal reforming of natural gas where more H2 as a component of the synthesis gas is produced than can be converted electrochemically into electricity the heat losses from the fuel cell operation would be used as the endothermal heat source for the reforming step [65]. 

Further, plan a process in which the reaction is to be carried out with a charge of 5000 pounds of benzene in a vessel equipped with internal heat-transfer coils and with sufficient surface area to satisfy an allowable temperature rise of 10°C. Cooling water is available at 20°C. In the reactor the heat-transfer area is 300 ft, and an overall heat-transfer coefficient of 200 Btu/ft -h-°F can be maintained. The reaction is to be carried out at 40° C, and under these conditions the nitrie acid dissolved in the organic layer may be neglected. The acid is to be fed at a constant rate such that if it were all converted the limiting heat-removal rate would not be exceeded. 

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