Return to Japanese Patent Table of Contents JP6239777 Abstract Method of direct cooling synthesis gas in a catalytic reactor with one or more catalyst beds of a metal oxide catalyst being loaded on gas permeable partitions with distribution means, which method comprises admixing the synthesis gas during its passage through the reactor with a cooling gas being introduced into a mixing zone beneath each partition, wherein the mixing zones are obtained by passing a reducing gas through the catalyst bed, so that the catalyst volume shrinks during reduction of the catalyst particles, and, thereby, providing necessary cavities for the mixing zones beneath each partition. PURPOSE: To provide a method for cooling a synthesis gas useful for producing methanol or the like by using a cavity formed by shrinkage of a catalyst during activation of the catalyst, in a catalytic reactor, and excellent in stability of a mixing ratio of cooling gas/synthesis gas and capable of reducing the formation of by-products. CONSTITUTION: A catalytic reactor having catalyst beds of a metal oxide catalyst being loaded on gas permeable partitions with distribution means is used. When a synthesis gas is passed through the reactor, the synthesis gas is mixed with a cooling gas being introduced into a mixing zone beneath each partition, in order to directly cool the synthesis gas. The mixing zones mentioned above are obtained by passing a reducing gas through the catalyst beds, so that the catalyst volume shrinks during reduction of the catalyst particles, and thereby producing necessary cavities for the mixing zone beneath each partition. It is preferable that the cooling gas is a fresh synthesis gas and that the synthesis gas is compound of carbon monooxide and hydrogen for producing methanol. |