Thermometric analysis method and apparatus for control of catalytic reactions

Claim 1

A METHOD FOR THE INTRODUCTION INTO AN EXOTHERMIC CATALYTIC REACTION ZONE OF THE AMOUNT OF CATALYST NECESSARY TO OBTAIN DESIRED PROPERTIES OF A PRODUCT OF THE REACTION COMPRISING PASSING A FEED STREAM INTO SAID REACTION ZONE, WITHDRAWING A SAMPLE FROM SAID FEED STREAM, PASSING THE THUS WITHDRAWN SAMPLE INTO AN ANALYZING ZONE, INTRODUCING INTO SAID SAMPLE IN SAID ANALYZING ZONE MATERIAL WHICH REACTS WITH CATALYST POISONS CONTAINED IN SAID SAMPLE AND CAUSES COMMENCEMENT OF THE EXOTHERMIC REACTION UPON THE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION OF THE REACTION OF THE CATALYST POISONS IN SAID SAMPLE WITH SAID MATERIAL, DETECTING THE SHARP RISE IN TEMPERATURE OF THE SAMPLE WHICH SIGNIFIES THE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE REACTION OF THE CATALYST POISONS CONTAINED THEREIN AND THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE EXOTHERMIC REACTION, AND INTRODUCING CATALYST INTO SAID REACTION ZONE AT A RATE RESPONSIVE TO THE AMOUNT OF SAID MATERIAL ADDED TO SAID SAMPLE PRIOR TO THE DETECTION OF SAID SHARP RISE IN TEMPERATURE.