Meggitt (uk) Limited

The University of Sydney

Orica International Pte Ltd

Meggit (uk) Ltd.

Yara International Asa

Meggitt Ltd.

Anthony Matthew Johnston

Brian Scott Haynes

Gregory Lawrence Conroy

William Levy

A multiple adiabatic bed reforming apparatus and process are disclosed in which stage-wise combustion, in combination with multiple reforming chambers with catalyst, utilize co-flow and cross-flow under laminar flow conditions, to provide a reformer suitable for smaller production situation as well as large scale production. A passive stage by stage fuel distribution network suitable for low pressure fuel is incorporated and the resistances in successive fuel distribution lines control the amount of fuel delivered to each combustion stage.

Reforming apparatus and method

A process for producing ammonium nitrate is disclosed, which process comprises exposing a gaseous oxidizer feed composed at least substantially of ammonia, steam and an oxidizing gas to conditions whereby the ammonia is oxidized to produce a reaction mixture including nitrogen monoxide and water vapor. The reaction mixture is cooled in a heat exchanger whereby the nitrogen monoxide is oxidized, the water vapor is condensed and the products of the nitrogen monoxide oxidation react with and are absorbed by the condensed water to form a nitric acid stream, with substantially all of the nitrogen monoxide in the reaction mixture being converted to nitric acid. The nitric acid stream is reacted with a stream of ammonia to form the ammonium nitrate.

Process for producing ammonium nitrate

A process for producing nitric acid is disclosed in which a gaseous oxidizer feed composed at least substantially of ammonia, steam and an oxidizing gas is exposed to conditions whereby the ammonia is oxidized to produce a reaction mixture including nitrogen monoxide and water vapor. The reaction mixture is then cooled in a heat exchanger whereby: a) the nitrogen monoxide is oxidized and the water vapor is caused to condense, b) the products of the nitrogen monoxide oxidation react with and are absorbed by the condensed water, and c) substantially all of the nitrogen monoxide in the reaction mixture is converted to nitric acid. Also disclosed is a nitric acid solution when produced by the disclosed process.

Process for producing nitric acid

A process for producing ammonium nitrate is disclosed, which process comprises exposing a gaseous oxidiser feed composed at least substantially of ammonia, steam and an oxidising gas to conditions whereby the ammonia is oxidised to produce a reaction mixture including nitrogen monoxide and water vapour. The reaction mixture is cooled in a heat exchanger whereby the nitrogen monoxide is oxidised, the water vapour is condensed and the products of the nitrogen monoxide oxidation react with and are absorbed by the condensed water to form a nitric acid stream, with substantially all of the nitrogen monoxide in the reaction mixture being converted to nitric acid. The nitric acid stream is reacted with a stream of ammonia to form the ammonium nitrate.

A multiple adiabatic bed reforming apparatus and process involving stage-wise combustion and multiple reforming chambers. Co-flow and cross-flow occurs under laminar flow conditions. A reformer suitable for small scale production as well as large scale production. A passive stage-by-stage fuel distribution network suitable for low pressure fuel wherein the resistances in successive fuel distribution lines control the amount of fuel delivered to each combustion stage. Heat is captured from reforming syngas product to preheat gases before entering the reformer. Conditions that would produce unwanted coking or metal dusting are avoided or localized away from the heat exchangers to locations which can be cost effectively protected. A chemical reactor which has a core composed of a stack of metal plates that are diffusion bonded in face-to-face relationship.

Reformer apparatus and method with heat exchange occurring through a cross-flow configuration

A multiple adiabatic bed reforming apparatus and process are disclosed in which stage-wise combustion, in combination with multiple reforming chambers with catalyst, utilize co-flow and cross-flow under laminar flow conditions, to provide a reformer suitable for smaller production situations as well as large scale production. A passive stage by stage fuel distribution network suitable for low pressure fuel is incorporated and the resistances in successive fuel distribution lines control the amount of fuel delivered to each combustion stage.

A process for producing ammonium nitrate is disclosed and in which: Substantially all of the steam within the oxidizer feed is derived from the ammonium nitrate producing stage, and at least 10% of the ammonia within the oxidizer feed is derived and carried by the steam from the ammonium nitrate producing stage. Also disclosed is ammonium nitrate, in any of its various possible forms, when produced by the disclosed process.

Integrated process for producing ammonium nitrate

A multiple adiabatic bed reforming apparatus and process are disclosed in which stage-wise combustion, in combination with multiple reforming chambers with catalyst, utilize co-flow and cross-flow under laminar flow conditions, to provide a reformer suitable for smaller production situations as well as large scale production. A passive stage by stage fuel distribution network suitable for low pressure fuel is incorporated and the resistances in successive fuel distribution lines control the amount of fuel delivered to each combustion stage. The fuel distribution system allows relatively constant fuel and air flow during turn up or turn down conditions. High efficiency is achieved by capturing heat from reforming syngas product to preheat gases before entering the reformer. Conditions that would produce unwanted coking or metal dusting are also eliminated or localized to locations within the apparatus outside the heat exchangers, but which locations can be cost effectively protected.

A heat exchanger core incorporating diffusion bonded plates and heat exchangers incorporating such core are disclosed. The heat exchanger core comprises first and second groups of interleaved plates which are arranged respectively to carry first and second heat exchange fluids, and each of the plates in each group is formed in one of its faces with thirty or more platelets, each of which is composed of a group of parallel channels. Ports extend through the first and second groups of plates for conveying the first and second heat exchange fluids to and from the platelets, and distribution channels connect opposite ends of each platelet in each of the plates to associated ones of the ports. The distribution channels that are associated with each of the platelets in the plates of the first group are disposed in intersecting relationship with the distribution channels that are associated with respective ones of the platelets in the plates of the second group whereby each one of the platelets in the plates of the first group is located in heat exchange juxtaposition with a respective one of the platelets in the plates of the second group.

Heat exchanger core

Reformer apparatus and method

A chemical reactor is disclosed and which has a core composed of a stack of metal plates that are diffusion bonded in face-to-face relationship. A plurality of reaction zones are located within the core, as are a plurality of catalyst receiving zones, and both the reaction zones and the catalyst receiving zones are defined by respective aligned apertures in the plates. A first channel arrangement is provided in some of the plates for transporting a first reactant to and between the reaction zones, portions of the first channel arrangement that interconnect the reaction zones being formed over at least a portion of their length as heat exchange channels. A second channel arrangement is provided in others of the plates and is arranged to deliver a second reactant to each of the reaction zones. Also, a third channel arrangement provided in still others of the plates for transporting a third reactant to and between the catalyst receiving zones, portions of the third channel arrangement that interconnect the catalyst receiving zones being formed over at least a portion of their length as heat exchange channels that are positioned in heat exchange proximity to the heat exchange channels of the first channel arrangement. Also disclosed is a fuel processor that incorporates the chemical reactor, the catalyst receiving zones being arranged to function as reformer stages in the fuel processor.

Chemical reactor

A reactor comprises a reaction zone, optionally containing a catalyst bed, and heat exchange means inoperative contact with the reaction zone, e.g. embedded in a catalyst bed, and arranged so as to received reactants for heat exchange purposes, wherein the heat exchange means is formed from a plurality of superposed metal plates wherein fluid flow channels have been formed, according t a pre-determined pattern, the channel-bearing plates being aligned during superposition to define discrete heat exchange pathways respectively for reactant and working fluids, and the said plates are diffusion bonded together.

A reactor comprises a plurality of reaction zones divided by heat exchanger panels but in fluid communication via the panels, the reaction zones being arranged in a spiral configuration whereby the reaction zones form a flow path for reactants that extends between a central part of the reactor and an outer peripheral part thereof.

Compact reactor

A reactor of the staged adiabatic reactor type, comprises at least one heat exchanger panel, preferably a printed circuit heat exchange (PCHE) panel, interposes between adiabatic beds of catalyst, wherein the facial area of the panels and the superficial facial area of the corresponding catalyst are substantially similar, and the panels include means defining discrete passages for handling of reactants and heat transfer media, wherein the means defining passages for heat transfer media provide for at least two differing flow path directions for the heat transfer media through the heat exchanger panel whereby the occurrence of temperature bias or differentials is reduced.

A heat exchange device which is employed for separating components of different volatility from a solution containing the components and which has particular application as a heat exchanger/rectifier/generator in an absorption cycle refrigeration system. The device comprises a plurality of heat conductive plates which are stacked as laminations in face-to-face heat conductive relationship and a chamber is formed in the plates, the chamber defining a zone into which fluid is directed and in which liquid and vapor phases of the fluid can separate. First, second, third and fourth fluid flow channel regions are formed within the plates. The first channel region provides a passage through which the fluid is delivered to the chamber, the second channel region provides a passage for conveying the vapor phase of the fluid from the chamber, the third channel region provides a passage for conveying the liquid phase of the fluid from the chamber, and the fourth channel region provides a passage through which a heat exchange fluid is passed for transferring heat into the device.

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Double Bay, Australia

Anthony Matthew Johnston