US 11,697,099 B2
Direct electrical heating of catalytic reactive system
Lanyon Carr, Gold River, CA (US); and Gregoire Quere, Lyons (FR)
Assigned to SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SYSTEMS USA, INC., Foxborough, MA (US)
Filed by Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc., Foxborough, MA (US); and Eurotherm Automation SAS, Dardilly (FR)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/532,571.
Prior Publication US 2023/0158464 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. B01J 8/06 (2006.01); B01J 19/24 (2006.01); B01J 21/04 (2006.01); B01J 19/00 (2006.01); B01J 23/755 (2006.01)
CPC B01J 8/067 (2013.01) [B01J 19/0013 (2013.01); B01J 19/2415 (2013.01); B01J 21/04 (2013.01); B01J 23/755 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00389 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00407 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00415 (2013.01); B01J 2219/00132 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of heating a reactor system, wherein the reactor system comprises a plurality of reactor tubes, and wherein each reactor tube of the plurality of reactor tubes has a catalyst disposed therein and comprises at least one electrically conductive surface, the method comprising:
electrically isolating the reactor tubes from other electrically conductive components of the reactor system;
providing electrical energy to the at least one electrically conductive surface of each of the plurality of reactor tubes; and
individually adjusting a current level of the electrical energy provided to the at least one electrically conductive surface of each reactor tube of the plurality of reactor tubes to individually control the temperature of each reactor tube of the plurality of reactor tubes and the catalyst disposed therein;
wherein the difference in temperature between two points on the surface of each of the plurality of reactor tubes is about 50° C. or less; and
wherein fluid enters each reactor tube of the plurality of reactor tubes via an associated inflow pipe arrangement and exits each reactor tube of the plurality of reactor tubes via an associated outflow pipe arrangement, and wherein electrically isolating the plurality of reactor tubes from the other electrically conductive components of the reactor system comprises placing an insulative gasket between each reactor tube of the plurality of reactor tubes and the associated inflow pipe arrangement and placing an insulative gasket between each reactor tube of the plurality of reactor tubes and the associated outflow pipe.