Photochemical reactor and irradiation process

Claim 2

A process for the radiation catalyzed reaction of reactants, performed in a photochemical reactor containing a plurality of longitudinally oriented parallel spaced funicular radiation sources, comprising the steps of: a. passing said reactants generally longitudinally through said reactor; b. moving, in directions, to said skew longitudinal direction, at longitudinally spaced positions within said reactor, at least a portion of said reactants thereby producing oscillating flow at least of said portion of reactants with respect to said longitudinal direction thereby promoting mixing of said reactants as said reactants pass through said reactor; and c. irradiating the reactants; whereby a reaction product is produced.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said irradiating step further comprises: d. surrounding at least one source of radiation with said reactants as said reactants pass through said reactor and e. irradiatig the reactants through an at least translucent moderating fluid separated from said reactants.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2 wherein said radiation sources comprise a plurality of closely packed at least translucent tubes with lamps therein and wherein said moderating fluid is maintained interior the length of said translucent tubes but exterior said lamps.

Claim 5

The process of claim 3 wherein said moderating fluid is non-reactive.

Claim 6

The process of claim 3 wherein said moving step further comprises moving, at longitudinally spaced positions along said tubes, portions of reactants passing longitudinally through said reactor, to flow at least partially at angles to said tubes, said portions of reactants thereby flowing across said tubes.

Claim 7

The process of claim 5 wherein said moderating fluid is continuously replaced.

Claim 8

The process of claim 5 wherein said moderating fluid is continuously recirculated.

Claim 9

The process of claim 5 wherein said moderating fluid is stationary with respect to said radiation sources.

Claim 10

The process of claim 5 comprising the further steps of: d. introducing reactants into said reactor along a direction substantially transverse said longitudinal direction, and e. removing reactants and products from said reactor along a direction substantially transverse said longitudinal direction.

Claim 11

The process of claim 9 wherein the reactants are hydrogen sulfide and an olefin and the reaction product is a mercaptan.

Claim 12

The process of claim 10 wherein the radiation source emis radiation having a wavelength substantially between about 2000 Angstroms and about 2900 Angstroms.

Claim 13

The process of claim 11 wherein the moderating fluid is nitrogen.

Claim 14

The process of alcim 1 wherein step (c) comprises surrounding at least one source of radiation with said reactants as said reactants pass through said reactor.

Claim 15

The process of alcim 1 wherein step (c) comprises surrounding at least one source of radiation with said reactants as said reactants pass through said reactor.

Claim 16

The process of claim 13 wherein each said radiation source comprises an at least translucent tube with a lamp therein.

Claim 17

The process of claim 14 wherein said moving step further comprises moving, at longitudinally spaced positions along said tubes, portions of reactants passing longitudinally through said reactor to flow at least partially at angles to said tubes, said portions of reactants thereby flowing across said tubes.

Claim 18

The process of claim 15 comprising the further steps of: d. introducing reactants into said reactor along a direction substantially transverse said longitudinal direction; and e. removing reactants and products from said reactor along a direction substantially transverse said longitudinal direction.

Claim 19

The process of claim 16 wherein the reactants are hydrogen sulfide and an olefin and the reaction product is a mercaptan.

Claim 20

The process of claim 17 wherein the radiation source emits radiation having a wavelength substantially between about 2000 Angstroms and about 2900 Angstroms.

Claim 21

A photochemical reactor comprising: a. a shell having reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports and moderating fluid inlet and outlet ports; b. at least one radiation source oriented along a first direction within said shell, each radiation source including: i. at least one lamp for emitting radiation; and ii. a housing, at least translucent to radiation, about said lamps; c. at least one baffle at least partially blockin a straight line path between said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports; d. means for connecting said shell, said radiation sources and said baffles and for maintaining said radiation sources in spaced disposition from each other and from interior surfaces of said shell; e. means for sealing said lamps within said housings in fluid-tight relation and for structurally connecting said lamps and said housings to said radiation source space disposition means; f. two fluid-tight chambers separated by a reactant chamber in said shell; g. means for connecting the interior of said housings with each of said fluid-tight chambers for flow of moderating fluid therebetween through said housings; wherein said shell has therethrough a moderating fluid inlet port into one of said fluid-tight chambers and a moderating fluid outlet port out of the remaining fluid-tight chamber, whereby when reactant fluid is passed through said shell from said reactant fluid inlet port to said reactant fluid outlet port, said radiation sources may be surrounded by reactant fluid and said baffles divert at least a portion of said reactant fluid around said radiation sources thereby promoting reactant fluid mixing proximate said radiation sources.

Claim 22

A photochemical reactor comprising: a. a shell having reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports and moderating fluid inlet and outlet ports; b. at least one radiation source oriented along a first direction within said shell, each radiation source including: i. at least one lamp for emitting radiation; and ii. a housing, at least translucent to radiation, about said lamps; c. at least one baffle at least partially blockin a straight line path between said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports; d. means for connecting said shell, said radiation sources and said baffles and for maintaining said radiation sources in spaced disposition from each other and from interior surfaces of said shell; e. means for sealing said lamps within said housings in fluid-tight relation and for structurally connecting said lamps and said housings to said radiation source space disposition means; f. two fluid-tight chambers separated by a reactant chamber in said shell; g. means for connecting the interior of said housings with each of said fluid-tight chambers for flow of moderating fluid therebetween through said housings; wherein said shell has therethrough a moderating fluid inlet port into one of said fluid-tight chambers and a moderating fluid outlet port out of the remaining fluid-tight chamber, whereby when reactant fluid is passed through said shell from said reactant fluid inlet port to said reactant fluid outlet port, said radiation sources may be surrounded by reactant fluid and said baffles divert at least a portion of said reactant fluid around said radiation sources thereby promoting reactant fluid mixing proximate said radiation sources.

Claim 23

The photochemical reactor of claim 19 wherein at least one of said baffles is provided inboard said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports, each baffle having a first edge portion proximate said shell inner surface and a second edge portion remote said shell inner surface.

Claim 24

The photochemical reactor of claim 20 wherein said lamp is an ultraviolet lamp and wherein said at least translucent housing is a quartz housing.

Claim 25

The photochemical reactor of claim 21 wherein said lamps and said housings have generally concentric cylindrical configurations with an annular void between said lamps and said housing, wherein said baffles are generally planar and disposed at least partially transverse said radiation sources, at least one radiation source passing through each baffle whereby when reactant fluid flows through said shell, flow about said radiation sources with reactant fluid mixing results from reactant fluid being diverted from a straight line path between said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports by at least one baffle.

Claim 26

The photochemical reactor of claim 22 wherein there is provided a plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources closely packed together and wherein a majority of said radiation sources pass through each of said baffles, said baffles being substantially transverse to said radiation sources.

Claim 27

The photochemical reactor of claim 23 wherein said first edge portion of each baffle is a major edge portion and said second edge portion of each baffle is a minor edge portion.

Claim 28

The photochemical reactor of claim 24 wherein said housings have a square pitch pattern.

Claim 29

The photochemical reactor of claim 24 wherein said housings have a triangular pitch pattern.

Claim 30

The photochemical reactor of claim 24 wherein said housings have a diamond pitch pattern.

Claim 31

A photochemical reactor comprising: a. a shell having reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports; b. at least one radiation source oriented longitudinally within said shell, each radiation source including at least one lamp for emitting radiation; c. at least one baffle at least partially blocking a straight line path between said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports, at least one of said radiation sources passing through said baffle; d. means connecting said shell, said radiation sources and said baffles, for maintaining said radiation sorces spaced from each other and from interior surfaces of said shell; whereby when reactant fluid is passed through said shell, said radiation sources may be surrounded by reactant fluid and said baffles divert at least a portion of said reactant fluid across said radiation sources thereby producing at least partially oscillating flow, promoting mixing of reactant fluid proximate said radiation sources.

Claim 32

A photochemical reactor comprising: a. a shell having reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports; b. at least one radiation source oriented longitudinally within said shell, each radiation source including at least one lamp for emitting radiation; c. at least one baffle at least partially blocking a straight line path between said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports, at least one of said radiation sources passing through said baffle; d. means connecting said shell, said radiation sources and said baffles, for maintaining said radiation sorces spaced from each other and from interior surfaces of said shell; whereby when reactant fluid is passed through said shell, said radiation sources may be surrounded by reactant fluid and said baffles divert at least a portion of said reactant fluid across said radiation sources thereby producing at least partially oscillating flow, promoting mixing of reactant fluid proximate said radiation sources.

Claim 33

A photochemical reactor comprising: a. a shell having reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports and moderating fluid inlet and outlet ports; b. at least one radiation source oriented longitudinally within said shell, each radiation source including: i. an at least one funicular ultraviolet lamp; and ii. a generally cylindrical housing, at least translucent to radiation, concentrically spaced about said lamp; c. at least one inboard said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports, at least partially blocking a straight line path between said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports, at least one of said radiation sources passing through at least one baffle; d. means connecting said shell, said radiation sources and said baffles, for maintaining said radiation sources in spaced disposition from each other and from interior surfaces of said shell; e. means for sealing said lamps within said housings in fluid-tight relation; f. means for fluidically connecting spaces between said housings and said lamps with said moderating fluid inlet and outlet ports for flow of moderating fluid through said spaces within said housings; whereby when reactant fluid is passed through said shell from said reactant fluid inlet port to said reactant fluid outlet port, said radiation sources may be surrounded by reactant fluid with said baffles diverting reactant fluid over said radiation sources thereby producing at least partially oscillating flow of reactant fluid promoting reactant fluid mixing proximate said radiation sources.

Claim 34

A photochemical reactor comprising: a. a shell having reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports and moderating fluid inlet and outlet ports; b. at least one radiation source oriented longitudinally within said shell, each radiation source including: i. an at least one funicular ultraviolet lamp; and ii. a generally cylindrical housing, at least translucent to radiation, concentrically spaced about said lamp; c. at least one inboard said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports, at least partially blocking a straight line path between said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports, at least one of said radiation sources passing through at least one baffle; d. means connecting said shell, said radiation sources and said baffles, for maintaining said radiation sources in spaced disposition from each other and from interior surfaces of said shell; e. means for sealing said lamps within said housings in fluid-tight relation; f. means for fluidically connecting spaces between said housings and said lamps with said moderating fluid inlet and outlet ports for flow of moderating fluid through said spaces within said housings; whereby when reactant fluid is passed through said shell from said reactant fluid inlet port to said reactant fluid outlet port, said radiation sources may be surrounded by reactant fluid with said baffles diverting reactant fluid over said radiation sources thereby producing at least partially oscillating flow of reactant fluid promoting reactant fluid mixing proximate said radiation sources.

Claim 35

The photochemical reactor of claim 29 wherein each said lamp extends substantially the length of said housing surrounding said lamp and wherein said housing is quartz.

Claim 36

The photochemical reactor of claim 30 wherein each radiation source consists of a single lamp surrounded by a concentric housing wherein there are a plurality of generally planar baffles disposed at least partially transverse said radiation sources, spaced longitudinally along said radiation sources between said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports, at least some of said baffles partially blocking a straight line path between said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports, for displacing reactants passing longitudinally through said reactor alternately in directions skew to said longitudinal direction thereby producing oscillating flow over said radiation sources.

Claim 37

A photochemical reactor comprising: a shell having reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports; b. a plurality of parallel ultraviolet radiation sources closely packed together longitudinally oriented within said shell, each including a cylindrical ultraviolet lamp within a concentric cylindrical quartz housing at least translucent to radiation, said housing spaced about said lamps to provide annular voids therebetween; c. a plurality of generally planar baffles substantially transverse said radiation sources, at least one baffle at least partially blocking a straight line path between said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports, each baffle having a first edge portion proximate said shell inner surface and a second edge portion remote said shell inner surface; d. means connecting said shell, said radiation sources and said baffles, for maintaining said radiation sources spaced from each other and from interior surfaces of said shell; and e. means for sealing said lamps within said housings; wherein a majority of said radiation sources pass through each of said baffles, whereby when reactant fluid flows through said shell, flow about said radiation sources with reactant fluid mixing results from reactant fluid being diverted from a path through said shell in the longitudinal direction by encounter with at least one of said baffles.

Claim 38

A photochemical reactor comprising: a shell having reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports; b. a plurality of parallel ultraviolet radiation sources closely packed together longitudinally oriented within said shell, each including a cylindrical ultraviolet lamp within a concentric cylindrical quartz housing at least translucent to radiation, said housing spaced about said lamps to provide annular voids therebetween; c. a plurality of generally planar baffles substantially transverse said radiation sources, at least one baffle at least partially blocking a straight line path between said reactant fluid inlet and outlet ports, each baffle having a first edge portion proximate said shell inner surface and a second edge portion remote said shell inner surface; d. means connecting said shell, said radiation sources and said baffles, for maintaining said radiation sources spaced from each other and from interior surfaces of said shell; and e. means for sealing said lamps within said housings; wherein a majority of said radiation sources pass through each of said baffles, whereby when reactant fluid flows through said shell, flow about said radiation sources with reactant fluid mixing results from reactant fluid being diverted from a path through said shell in the longitudinal direction by encounter with at least one of said baffles.

Claim 39

The photochemical reactor of claim 32 wherein said first edge portion of each baffle is a major edge portion and said second edge portion of each baffle is a minor edge portion.

Claim 40

The photochemical reactor of claim 33 wherein said housings have a square pitch pattern.

Claim 41

Th photochemical reactor of claim 33 wherein said housing have a triangular pitch pattern.

Claim 42

The photochemical reactor of claim 33 wherein said housings have a diamond pitch pattern.