A reactor for steam-methane reforming is adapted to be received in a tube on a focal axis of a parabolic trough. The reactor may comprise an array of micro-reactors interconnected by a water manifold, a gas manifold, a syngas manifold, and at least one steam-methane reforming chamber configured for reforming steam and methane into syngases, the micro-reactors having a vaporization portion for producing steam. Radiation plates may extend on sides of the array of micro-reactors Glazing may face and be spaced apart from a portion of the array of micro-reactors including at least one steam-methane reforming chamber, the glazing being conductively connected to the radiation plates for heat transfer therebetween, the at least one glazing allowing light from the parabolic trough to pass therethrough to reach the array of micro-reactors.

The invention relates to a process for reforming a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon gas and steam, said process comprising the steps of: a) in a synthesis gas generation reactor carrying out a reforming reaction of the hydrocarbon feed stream over a first catalyst, thereby forming a first synthesis gas; b) providing a heated CO.sub.2 rich stream to a post converter comprising a second catalyst; and c) in said post converter carrying out a methanation, steam reforming and reverse water gas shift reactions of the first synthesis gas and the heated CO.sub.2 rich stream to produce a product synthesis gas, wherein said second catalyst is heated electrically by means of an electrical power source. The invention moreover relates to a system arranged to carry out the process of the invention.

A modified bed particles, related methods and applications in processes involving microwave-assisted catalytic reactions. The bed particles modified to be used as a microwave receptor that is capable to simultaneously sustain heat generation mechanisms under microwave irradiations and physically act as catalyst support. The bed particle comprises a dielectric coating deposited on an external surface of a core, the bed particle being sized for use in a fixed bed reactor or a fluidized bed reactor. The bed particles may further comprise a catalytically active material supported on a surface of the dielectric coating. Irradiating the gas-solid reactor with microwaves enables heating the dielectric coating of the solid bed particles, the dielectric coating locally transferring thermal energy to the surrounding gaseous reactants which are thereby selectively converted into the primary products.

A zero-emission, closed-loop and hybrid solar-produced syngas power cycle is introduced utilizing an oxygen transport reactor (OTR). The fuel is syngas produced within the cycle. The separated oxygen inside the OTR through the ion transport membrane (ITM) is used in the syngas-oxygen combustion process in the permeate side of the OTR. The combustion products in the permeate side of the OTR are CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2O. The combustion gases are used in a turbine for power production and energy utilization then a condenser is used to separate H.sub.2O from CO.sub.2. CO.sub.2 is compressed to the feed side of the OTR. H.sub.2O is evaporated after separation from CO.sub.2 and fed to the feed side of the OTR.

A process is disclosed that converts flue gas carbon dioxide to liquid fuels with the aid of biomass and methane. This process incorporates biomass pyrolysis, and gasification of the renewable carbon obtained from this pyrolysis with carbon dioxide and methane in two separate gasification reactors. The gasification reactions occur optionally in the presence of microwave energy. Water, liquid fuels and a sequesterable carbon are expected to be the primary products in this carbon negative process.

In one aspect, disclosed herein are devices comprising a disclosed hybrid microwave-thermal chemical reactor device. Also disclosed herein are methods of preparing hydrogen and a crystalline carbon material, such as a carbon nanotube, from methane using a hybrid heating comprising heating with both a thermal fluid and microwave irradiation of a catalyst. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

The invention relates to a process for reforming a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon gas and steam, said process comprising the steps of: a) in a synthesis gas generation reactor carrying out a reforming reaction of the hydrocarbon feed stream over a first catalyst, thereby forming a first synthesis gas; b) providing a heated CO.sub.2 rich stream to a post converter comprising a second catalyst; and c) in said post converter carrying out a methanation, steam reforming and reverse water gas shift reactions of the first synthesis gas and the heated CO.sub.2 rich stream to produce a product synthesis gas, wherein said second catalyst is heated electrically by means of an electrical power source. The invention moreover relates to a system arranged to carry out the process of the invention.

In one aspect, disclosed herein are devices comprising a disclosed hybrid microwave-thermal chemical reactor device. Also disclosed herein are methods of preparing hydrogen and a crystalline carbon material, such as a carbon nanotube, from methane using a hybrid heating comprising heating with both a thermal fluid and microwave irradiation of a catalyst. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

A reactor system including a plurality of catalytic modules connected end-to-end, forming a passage for reactants to pass through individually heated catalytic heating elements, thereby producing products. Each catalytic module has an insulating housing containing a catalytic heating element and configured to pass reactants over the catalytic heating element. A conductor in the module applies electricity to the catalytic heating element, which operates as a combined catalytic material and heating element.

The invention relates to a process to convert hydrocarbons into hydrogen and a separate carbon phase, whereby in step a) the hydrocarbons are contacted with a molten salt, preferably comprising Zinc Chloride, at temperatures preferably above 500 C. and in step b) a solid or liquid carbon phase is separated from the molten salt at a lower temperature, preferably below 150 C. The molten salt is then preferably re-heated to the desired temperature and recycled to step a). The process avoids the emission of CO.sub.2, making the hydrogen produced in this way a zero CO.sub.2 emission fuel and which also produces a carbon product produced having a use value.