Temperature controlled reaction vessel

Abstract

A reaction vessel which includes internally placed temperature controlling mixing baffles in which liquid is boiled, resulting in an isothermal heat sink. The energy of vaporization is supplied by the reaction vessel contents. The vapor produced by the boiling may be directed to channel coils which surround the outside of the reaction vessel wall. The channel coils contact the outside wall of the reaction vessel perpendicularly, and provide mechanical support for the reaction vessel. The mechanical support from the channel coils allows for a decrease in the thickness of the reaction vessel wall and corresponding increased heat transfer efficiency between the channel coil contents and the reaction vessel contents. The entire above described apparatus is enclosed within an evacuated shell to provide additional insulation. The apparatus includes a gravitationally powered device that ensures that saturated or sub-cooled liquid enters the isothermal mixing baffles, thus guaranteeing that isothermal phase change will occur therein.

1 . A method for controlling the temperature in a reaction vessel comprising the steps of:
 disposing a helical channel temperature control coil around an outside surface of said reaction vessel;   introducing a heat transfer working fluid into a phase separator;   withdrawing a liquid portion of said working fluid from said phase separator and introducing said liquid portion into an isothermal mixing baffle disposed in contents contained in said reaction vessel;   withdrawing a vapor portion of said working fluid from said phase separator and mixing it with a vapor phase working fluid withdrawn from said isothermal mixing baffle to produce a mixed heat exchange fluid; and   introducing said mixed heat exchange fluid into said helical channel coil.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further including the step of:
 selecting said heat transfer fluid from the group consisting of nitrogen, helium, brine, steam, chilled water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, CF1, methanol, ethanol, ethane, ethylene, methane R134A, and hot water.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further including the step of:
 controlling flow rate of liquid flow into said isothermal mixing baffle to control heat transfer to said contents in said reaction vessel.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further including the step of:
 controlling level of liquid heat transfer agent in said isothermal mixing baffle to control heat transfer of said contents in said reaction vessel.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further including the step of:
 heating said contents in said reaction vessel by introducing a hot gas into said isothermal mixing baffle.