A reactor system may comprise a moving bed reactor, a fluidized bed reactor, and a separation unit. The moving bed reactor may comprise catalyst material particles comprising a metal oxide support and a transition metal alloy, where the transition metal alloy comprises two transition metal elements. The moving bed reactor may comprise an inlet configured to receive a hydrocarbon and an outlet configured to provide hydrogen (H2) generated within the moving bed reactor. The fluidized bed reactor may be in fluid communication with the moving bed reactor and configured to receive the catalyst material particles and deposited carbon material from the moving bed reactor. The separation unit may be in fluid communication with an outlet of the fluidized bed reactor and configured to separate the catalyst material particles from carbon material and inert gas. The separation unit may be in fluid communication with the moving bed reactor.

A process for producing hydrogen and pyrolytic carbon from hydrocarbons may involve converting hydrocarbons into hydrogen and carbon in a reactor at temperatures of 1000 C. or more. The reactor may include two electrodes spaced apart from one another in a flow direction of the hydrocarbons. In a region of the reactor between the electrodes an inert gas component is supplied over an entire reactor cross section. The reactor contains carbon particles in the region between the two electrodes. By introducing an inert gas component over the entire reactor cross section, deposition of carbon in this region of the reactor inner wall is prevented, thus effectively inhibiting the formation of conductivity bridges on the reactor inner wall.

A process for producing hydrogen and pyrolytic carbon from hydrocarbons may involve converting hydrocarbons into hydrogen and carbon in a reactor at temperatures of 1000 C. or more. The reactor may include two electrodes spaced apart from one another in a flow direction of the hydrocarbons. In a region of the reactor between the electrodes an inert gas component is supplied over an entire reactor cross section. The reactor contains carbon particles in the region between the two electrodes. By introducing an inert gas component over the entire reactor cross section, deposition of carbon in this region of the reactor inner wall is prevented, thus effectively inhibiting the formation of conductivity bridges on the reactor inner wall.

A heat transfer media comprises a particle. The particle comprises a discontinuous phase and a matrix material. The discontinuous phase is disposed within the matrix material, and the matrix material has a higher melting point than the discontinuous phase. The discontinuous phase has a melting point selected to be within a reaction temperature range.

A heat transfer media comprises a particle. The particle comprises a discontinuous phase and a matrix material. The discontinuous phase is disposed within the matrix material, and the matrix material has a higher melting point than the discontinuous phase. The discontinuous phase has a melting point selected to be within a reaction temperature range.

A reactor for carrying out an endothermic reaction, in particular a high-temperature reaction, in which a product gas is obtained from a feed gas, wherein: the reactor surrounds a reactor interior; the reactor is configured to provide a reactor bed in a reaction zone of the reactor interior, which reactor bed comprises a large number of solid material particles; the reactor is also configured to guide the feed gas into the reaction zone; in order to heat the feed gas, the reactor is designed to heat the solid material particles in the reaction zone such that, by transferring heat from the solid material particles to the feed gas, the feed gas in the reaction zone can be heated to a reaction temperature in order to participate as a starting product in the endothermic reaction for producing the product gas.

A reactor for carrying out an endothermic reaction, in particular a high-temperature reaction, in which a product gas is obtained from a feed gas, wherein: the reactor surrounds a reactor interior; the reactor is configured to provide a reactor bed in a reaction zone of the reactor interior, which reactor bed comprises a large number of solid material particles; the reactor is also configured to guide the feed gas into the reaction zone; in order to heat the feed gas, the reactor is designed to heat the solid material particles in the reaction zone such that, by transferring heat from the solid material particles to the feed gas, the feed gas in the reaction zone can be heated to a reaction temperature in order to participate as a starting product in the endothermic reaction for producing the product gas.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for producing hydrogen and graphitic carbon from a hydrocarbon gas comprising: contacting at a temperature between 600 C. and 1000 C. the catalyst with the hydrocarbon gas to catalytically convert at least a portion of the hydrocarbon gas to hydrogen and graphitic carbon, wherein the catalyst is a low grade iron oxide.

A process for producing high purity hydrogen includes separating a gas stream comprising hydrogen and unreacted light hydrocarbons from a product effluent comprising the gas stream comprising the hydrogen and the unreacted light hydrocarbons, and a spent carbon supported metal catalyst comprising one or more active metal compounds and solid carbon deposits derived from catalytically cracking a light hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of a carbon supported metal catalyst comprising one or more active metal compounds in a reactor, separating the hydrogen and the unreacted light hydrocarbons from the gas stream comprising the hydrogen and the unreacted light hydrocarbons, and withdrawing high purity hydrogen.

Systems and methods for a semi-continuous, hydrocarbon pyrolysis process to simultaneously produce CO.sub.2-free H.sub.2 and high value carbon, wherein the value of the produced carbon offsets the cost of H.sub.2 production, are described. The methods comprise a process, wherein steps of: hydrocarbon pyrolysis over a metal-based catalyst to produce H2 and high value carbon; in-situ dislodging of the high value carbon from the catalyst with a vigorous gas stream fluidization; and the catalyst reductive regeneration are semi-continuously cycled such as to continuously recycle the catalyst.