Contact structures

Abstract

An internal static mixing system such as a disperser of mesh wire or expanded metal co-knit with a multi filament material selected from inert polymers, catalytic polymers, catalytic metals or mixtures in combination with a vertical reactor having a reaction zone and the disperser disposed in said reaction zone, particularly for carrying out paraffin alkylation using acid catalyst is disclosed. The wire mesh provides the structural integrity of the system as well as the open space required in reactors for the movement of vapors and liquids though the system. The disperser may be in sheets, bundles or bales or positioned within a frame.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A combination of a vertical reactor for carrying out catalytic reactions comprising a vertical reactor and a disperser disposed in said vertical reactor, said disperser comprising at least 50 volume % open space.  
     
     
         2 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said open space is up to about 97 volume %.  
     
     
         3 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said disperser comprises mesh wire co-knit with a multi filament component or expanded metal intertwined with a multi filament component, said multi filament selected from inert polymers, catalytic polymers, catalytic metals or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The combination according to  claim 3  wherein said disperser comprises a co-knit mesh of wire and polymer mesh.  
     
     
         5 . The combination according to  claim 3  wherein said disperser comprises co-knit mesh wire and fiberglass.  
     
     
         6 . The combination according to  claim 3  wherein said disperser comprises a mesh of co-knit wire and a multi filament component comprising teflon, steel wool, polypropylene, PVDF, polyester or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The combination according to  claim 3  wherein said disperser is positioned as a plurality of vertically arranged, transverse mats within and across said vertical reactor.  
     
     
         8 . The combination according to  claim 3  wherein said wire mesh provides structural integrity of the system and the open space required in reactors for the movement of vapors and liquids therethrough.  
     
     
         9 . The combination according to  claim 3  wherein said disperser comprises sheets, bundles or bales of the co-knit wire and the multi filament component or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The combination according to  claim 3  wherein said disperser comprises multi filament catalytic material of sulfonated vinyl resin, Ni, Pt, Co, Mo, Ag or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A combination for carrying out catalytic reactions in concurrent downflow comprising a vertical reactor, a disperser disposed in said vertical reactor, comprising at least one partially liquid reactant, catalyst and reaction conditions to maintain said partially liquid reactant at a boiling point.  
     
     
         12 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein said disperser comprises mesh wire co-knit with a multi filament component or expanded metal intertwined with a multi filament component, said multi filament selected from inert polymers, catalytic polymers, catalytic metals or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein said disperser comprises a co-knit mesh of wire and polymer mesh.  
     
     
         14 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein said disperser comprises co-knit mesh wire and fiberglass.  
     
     
         15 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein said disperser comprises a mesh of co-knit wire and a multi filament component comprising teflon, steel wool, polypropylene, PVDF, polyester or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein said disperser is positioned as a plurality of vertically arranged, transverse mats within and across said vertical reactor.  
     
     
         17 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein said wire mesh provides structural integrity of the system and the open space required in reactors for the movement of vapors and liquids therethrough.  
     
     
         18 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein said disperser comprises sheets, bundles or bales of the co-knit wire and the multi filament component or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein said disperser comprises multi filament catalytic material of sulfonated vinyl resin, Ni, Pt, Co, Mo, Ag or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein at least two phases are present.  
     
     
         21 . A disperser comprising mesh wire or expanded metal co-knit with a multi filament material selected from catalytic polymers, catalytic metals or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The disperser according to  claim 21  wherein said disperser comprises multi filament catalytic material of sulfonated vinyl resin, Ni, Pt, Co, Mo, Ag or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The disperser according to  claim 21  wherein said disperser comprises at least 50 volume % open space.  
     
     
         24 . The disperser according to  claim 21  wherein said disperser comprises up to about 97 volume % open space.  
     
     
         25 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said disperser comprises a structure that having a rigid frame made of two substantially vertical duplicate grids spaced apart and held rigid by a plurality of substantially horizontal rigid members and a plurality of substantially horizontal wire mesh tubes mounted to the grids to form a plurality of fluid pathways among the tubes, said tubes being empty or containing catalytic or non catalytic materials.  
     
     
         26 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein said disperser comprises a structure comprising a plurality of sheets of wire mesh formed into vee shaped corrugations having flats between the vees, said plurality of sheets being of substantially uniform size having the peaks oriented in the same direction and substantially in alignment, said sheets being separated by a plurality of rigid members oriented normally to and said resting upon said vees.