Multi-phase countercurrent reactor system

Claim 1

A countercurrent continuous catalytic reactor system for treating a liquid phase with a gaseous reactant comprising: an enclosed reactor shell containing a fixed porous bed of solid catalyst; upper liquid inlet means for introducing a stream of liquid substantially above the catalyst bed for downward gravity flow through the bed; lower liquid outlet means for withdrawing treated liquid from the reactor shell; gas inlet means disposed below the catalyst bed for introducing a gaseous reactant stream under pressure for countercurrently contacting downwardly flowing liquid in a mixed phase reaction zone, whereby gaseous reactant is dispersed through the liquid phase in intimate contact with the solid catalyst; upper gas outlet means for withdrawing gas from the reactor shell above the catalyst bed; level detector means disposed in a froth zone above the catalyst bed for detecting level of a mixed gas-liquid froth and generating a signal representative of froth level; and fluid handling control means operatively connected to the level detector means and responsive to said level signal to control fluid stream flow for regulating froth level above the catalyst bed, thereby permitting disengagement of dispersed gas from the liquid phase of the froth and preventing excessive liquid entrainment in the gas outlet.