The concept of Multi-stage indirect cooling and Radial Flow (MRF) is ideal
for designing a catalytic reactor in which an exothermic equilibrium reacti
on takes place. The reaction is controlled to go on along the path of the m
aximum reaction rate in the catalyst bed where synthesis gas flows radially
in the catalyst beds from the outer side to an inner center pipe across bo
iler (cooling) tubes to recover the reaction heat as qualitative steam. The
MRF concept has already been proven in a commercial scale methanol plant a
nd is unique not only for saving energy but also for considerable scale-up
for which the enhanced design, MRF-Z(R), provides. MRF-Z(R) is now offered
for single train 5,000 t/d reactors used in so-called jumbo methanol plants
.