Reactor and process for preparing phosgene

Abstract

A reactor () for preparing phosgene by gas-phase reaction of carbon monoxide and chlorine in the presence of a solid-state catalyst, which is provided in the catalyst tubes () of a bundle of catalyst tubes () which are arranged parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the reactor () and are welded at each of their two ends into a tube plate (), with introduction of the starting materials at the upper end of the catalyst tubes () and discharge of the gaseous reaction mixture at the lower end of the catalyst tubes (), in each case via a cap, and also with introduction and discharge facilities for a liquid heat transfer medium () in the intermediate space () between the catalyst tubes () , where the flow of the heat transfer medium () in the space () between the catalyst tubes () is guided by deflection plates (), which leave alternating openings () free on opposite sides at the interior wall of the reactor, in which openings the deflection plates () have cutouts having the shape of a segment of a circle, and the reactor () has no tubes in the region of the openings (), wherein the heat transfer coefficients at the interface between the catalyst tubes () and the heat transfer medium () are equalized over each reactor cross section by the flow paths of the heat transfer medium () in each reactor cross section, in each case measured from the first to last catalyst tube () in the flow direction of the heat transfer medium (), being matched to one another by means of an altered arrangement of the catalyst tubes (), is proposed.