Process for effecting chemical reactions

Abstract

A process for effecting chemical reactions, including wet oxidation reactions, in a deep well or down-hole reactor preferably providing a crosscurrent flow in a nested tube configuration wherein the influent fluid is in heat transfer relation with the effluent fluid. The disclosed process includes flowing an influent fluid including the reactants downwardly through a downcomer pipe which extends below ground in a subterranean opening or well casing forming a hydrostatic column of fluid, which defines a predetermined pressure, with the reactants at a temperature sufficient to initiate and maintain the desired chemical reaction. The method then includes flowing the effluent fluid upwardly through an upcomer pipe to ground level, preferably in heat transfer relation with the downflowing influent fluid. The method of this invention includes boiling the effluent fluid in the upcomer pipe, thereby reducing the hydrostatic fluid pressure in the upcomer and increasing the mass flow rate. The boiling of the effluent in the upcomer pipe may be initiated periodically at predetermined timed intervals to reduce pump pressure and increase the mass flow rate through the apparatus or the boiling of the effluent may be maintained to substantially eliminate pump pressure following initiation of an exothermic reaction in the reaction zone defined at the lower extent of a deep well reaction apparatus.