Isothermal reactorThe Linde isothermal reactor is a fixed bed reactor with indirect heat exchange suitable for endothermic and exothermic catalytic reactions.

This reactor provides the benefits of a tube reactor while simultaneously avoiding the heat tension problems of a straight tube reactor.

Gas/gas, gas/liquid and liquid/liquid reactions can be carried out.

The palpable head of gases and liquids as well as the latent evaporation heat can be used for cooling or heating operations. The heating or cooling tube bundle embedded in the catalyst transfers the reaction heat in such a way that the catalyst can work at an optimum temperature. This results in higher outputs, a longer catalyst lifetime, fewer by-products as well as efficient recovery of the reaction heat and lower reaction costs. 

The development of the Linde reactor was carried out with a particular view toward exothermic reaction and steam generation.

The reactor is based on the design of the coil-wound heat exchangers, with which Linde has been able to collect decades of experience in its own production facilities. The Linde isothermal reactor is in operation world-wide in more than 19 plants, among them eight methanol plants.

The reactor is advantageously applicable, e.g. in the following chemical industry processes:  

• methanol synthesis
• carbon monoxide shift conversion
• hydrogenation
• methanization
• CLINSULF^® sulfur recovery
• ethylene oxide synthesis
• synthesis of long-chain alcohols