A catalytic microscale reactor with spiral reactor geometry may have a high surface area to volume ratio, high catalytic surface area, high heat transfer surface area, long residence time, and high single pass conversion. The catalytic surface may be treated with microsphere spacer particles which serve to maintain the space between them at an engineered distance without the need for precise manufacturing techniques. The design of the reactor may allow for a catalyst surface to be removed, uncoiled, refurbished, and recoiled in an automated continuous process. An automated continuous process may be suitable both for initially preparing a new catalytic surface as well as refurbishing a fouled catalytic surface and may reduce the time and cost to prepare a new surface.

A device for treating crude oil or heavy fuel oil with a method that can lower the pour point to at least 0° C. Crude oil or heavy fuel oil treated thusly maintains this property for at least one year. The device for lowering the pour point of crude oil or heavy fuel oil uses a specific ionization method. The method is conducted by passing a heated medium through the main ionization device which is grounded and which includes three parallelly connected segments whereby each segment includes a protective copper tube inside which a protective insulating shell is situated, inside which a copper housing is situated. In each copper housing there is one cylindrical-shaped external core in which an internal core is placed, and the external core and internal core are manufactured as two different alloys by composition. Also described is a process for casting the external core and internal core.

PFRs for running multiphasic processes are disclosed. The PFRs are single or multi-chamber devices having at least three types of regions (a liquid-contacting region, a gas-contacting region and a Ssquid-coSection region), and a porous substrate providing fluid communication at least between the liquid-contacting and gas-contacting regions. Removal of liquid from the porous substrate, such as by collecting the liquid as it flows off the bottom of the porous substrate in the Siquid-coSSection region or such as by evaporation of the liquid from the porous substrate in the evaporation region supports a continuous flow process. Methods of using the PFRs are also disclosed, for example methods of using the PFRs as photobioreactors for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms, for producing fermentable sugars, for producing ethanol, for fermenting synthesis gas and producing single cell protein from natural gas.

This invention relates to the conversion or hydrotreatment of petroleum or coal derived liquids in a novel ebullated-bed reactor system. The novel processing scheme results in a much simpler and less costly (investment and annual operating) ebullated-bed reaction system through the elimination of the high pressure, high temperature separator, hydrogen purification plant, and recycle gas compressor as well as a smaller hydrogen make-up compressor all resulting in substantial operational and construction efficiency.

A method for producing para-xylene (PX) includes introducing a C.sub.8 aromatic-containing composition to a xylene rerun column to separate the C.sub.8 aromatic-containing composition into a xylene-containing effluent and a heavy effluent and passing the xylene-containing effluent to a PX processing loop that includes a PX recovery unit operable to separate a PX product from the xylene-containing effluent, a membrane isomerization unit operable to convert a portion of the MX, OX, or both from the xylene-containing effluent to PX, an EB dealkylation unit operable to dealkylate EB from the xylene-containing effluent to produce benzene, toluene, and other C.sub.7− compounds, and a membrane separation unit operable to produce a permeate that is PX-rich and a retentate that is PX-lean. The permeate is passed to the PX recovery unit for recovery of PX, which the retentate is bypassed around the PX recovery unit circulated through the xylene processing loop.

A cooling device uses an endothermic chemical reaction for cooling. The cooling device includes a sealed casing with at least two reagents that generate an endothermic chemical reaction when they come into contact. The cooling device further includes a separating membrane separating the reagents in a storage position; a contact-making system which can be activated and configured to bring the reagents into contact with one another when activated, an interface element for activating the contact-making system; and a thermal interface with a thermally conductive metal base plate. One of the surfaces of the base plate is subjected to the endothermic chemical reaction, and the other surface of the base plate is accessible from outside the cooling device.

A modular device for generating hydrogen gas from a hydrogen liquid carrier may include a housing; an inlet for receiving the hydrogen liquid carrier; and at least one cartridge arranged within the housing. The cartridge may include at least one catalyst configured to cause a release of hydrogen gas when exposed to the hydrogen liquid carrier. The modular device may include a gas outlet for expelling the hydrogen gas released in the modular device and a liquid outlet for expelling spent hydrogen liquid carrier.

A dehydrogenation reaction apparatus and a system including the same are disclosed. The dehydrogenation reaction apparatus includes: a main housing; and a dehydrogenation reactor which is provided inside of the main housing and has a catalyst provided inside. In particular, the dehydrogenation reactor generates hydrogen from a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC). The dehydrogenation reaction apparatus further includes: a heating device provided inside of the main housing and configured to apply heat to the dehydrogenation reactor through a phase change material, where the phase change material is provided between the main housing, and the dehydrogenation reactor and the heating device.

A hydrogen generation device capable of generating hydrogen using an inexpensive material is provided. The hydrogen generation device includes: a water flow path unit through which a solution flows in from outside and exits; a hydrogen generation unit made of a metal, the hydrogen generation unit generating hydrogen by a reaction with the flowing-in solution; and a hydrogen collection unit for collecting the generated hydrogen, wherein the hydrogen generation unit is disposed so that friction with the flowing-in solution peels off a surface film of the metal to expose an active surface of the metal, the metal being the hydrogen generation unit itself.

A hydrogen generation device capable of generating hydrogen using an inexpensive material is provided. The hydrogen generation device includes: a water flow path unit through which a solution flows in from outside and exits; a hydrogen generation unit made of a metal, the hydrogen generation unit generating hydrogen by a reaction with the flowing-in solution; and a hydrogen collection unit for collecting the generated hydrogen, wherein the hydrogen generation unit is disposed so that friction with the flowing-in solution peels off a surface film of the metal to expose an active surface of the metal, the metal being the hydrogen generation unit itself.