A process for producing syngas and olefins includes the steps of feeding a catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) reactant mixture having oxygen, first hydrocarbons, and optionally steam to a CPO reaction zone having a CPO catalyst such that at least a portion of the CPO reactant mixture reacts, via an exothermic CPO reaction, to produce syngas having hydrogen (H.sub.2), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), water, and unreacted first hydrocarbons. The syngas is characterized by a molar ratio M defined as (H.sub.2?CO.sub.2)/(CO+CO.sub.2). The method further includes feeding a cracking zone feed having second hydrocarbons to a cracking zone such that at least a portion of the second hydrocarbons undergoes an endothermic cracking reaction to produce a cracking zone product stream having olefins, hydrogen, and unreacted second hydrocarbons; and cooling the CPO reaction zone by heating the cracking zone while cooling the CPO reaction zone via heat transfer between the CPO reaction zone and the cracking zone.

A multi-tubular chemical reactor includes an igniter for the initiation of gas phase exothermic reaction within the gas phase reaction zones of the tubular reactor units.

A heat generating device includes a container, a heat generating element, and a heater. A hydrogen-based gas contributing to heat generation is introduced into the container. The heat generating element is provided inside the container. The heater is configured to heat the heat generating element. The heat generating element includes a base made of a hydrogen storage metal, a hydrogen storage alloy, or a proton conductor, and a multilayer film provided on a surface of the base. The multilayer film having a stacking configuration of: a first layer that is made of a hydrogen storage metal or a hydrogen storage alloy, and a second layer that is made of a hydrogen storage metal, a hydrogen storage alloy, or ceramics different from that of the first layer. The first layer and the second layer have a layer shape with a thickness of less than 1000 nm.

Reactive diluent fluid (22) is introduced into a stream of synthesis gas (or syngas) produced in a heat-generating unit such as a partial oxidation (PDX) reactor (12) to cool the syngas and form a mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid. Carbon dioxide and/or carbon components and/or hydrogen in the mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid is reacted (26) with at least a portion of the reactive diluent fluid in the mixture to produce carbon monoxide-enriched and/or solid carbon depleted syngas which is fed into a secondary reformer unit (30) such as an enhanced heat transfer reformer in a heat exchange reformer process. An advantage of the invention is that problems with the mechanical integrity of the secondary unit arising from the high temperature of the syngas from the heat-generating unit are avoided.

Reactive diluent fluid (22) is introduced into a stream of synthesis gas (or syngas) produced in a heat-generating unit such as a partial oxidation (POX) reactor (12) to cool the syngas and form a mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid. Carbon dioxide and/or carbon components and/or hydrogen in the mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid is reacted (26) with at least a portion of the reactive diluent fluid in the mixture to produce carbon monoxide-enriched and/or solid carbon depleted syngas which is fed into a secondary reformer unit (30) such as an enhanced heat transfer reformer in a heat exchange reformer process. An advantage of the invention is that problems with the mechanical integrity of the secondary unit arising from the high temperature of the syngas from the heat-generating unit are avoided.

A multi-tubular chemical reactor (400) includes an igniter (435) for the initiation of gas phase exothermic reaction within the gas phase reaction zones (409) of the tubular reactor units (408). A method of carrying out a gas phase exothermic reaction within the multi-tubular chemical reactor comprising: introducing gaseous reactants into a tubular reactor unit (408); initiating with radiant heat an exothermic reaction of the gaseous reactants within the reactor unit; and transferring heat produced by the exothermic reaction occurring within the gas phase reaction zone of the reactor unit to the gas phase reaction zone of one or more adjacent reactor units (408), thereby initiating an exothermic reaction within at least one adjacent reactor unit (408) until in such manner an exothermic reaction has been initiated in each of the plurality of spaced-apart reactor units (408).

A dual utilization liquid and gaseous fuel CPOX reformer that includes reaction zones for the CPOX reforming of liquid and gaseous reformable fuels. A reforming method is also provided. The method comprises reforming a first gaseous reformable reaction mixture comprising oxygen-containing gas and vaporized liquid fuel and before or after this step, reforming second gaseous reformable reaction mixture comprising oxygen-containing gas and gaseous fuel to produce a hydrogen-rich reformate.

The present invention provides a NiZr oxide catalyst and a process for the preparation of the catalyst. The invention further provides use of the catalyst for the production of synthesis gas (a mixture of CO and H.sub.2) by Tri-reforming of methane. The process provides a direct single step selective vapor phase partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas over NiZrO.sub.2 catalyst between temperature range of 600 C. to 800 C. at atmospheric pressure. The process provides a methane conversion of 1-99% with H.sub.2 to CO mole ratio of 1.6 to 2.2.

A method for providing hydrogen gas comprises a release of hydrogen gas in a dehydrogenation reactor by catalytic dehydrogenation of an at least partially charged hydrogen carrier medium to form an at least partially discharged hydrogen carrier medium, a catalytic oxidation of the at least partially discharged hydrogen carrier medium means of an oxidizing agent to form an at least partially oxidized hydrogen carrier medium in an oxidation reactor, a reduction of the at least partially oxidized hydrogen carrier medium to form the at least partially charged hydrogen carrier medium by catalytic hydrogenation in a hydrogenation reactor and a removal of at least one oxygen-containing impurity from the at least partially charged hydrogen carrier medium and/or from the at least partially oxidized hydrogen carrier medium.

The invention relates to a chemical reactor and reformer tubes for reforming a first feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon gas and steam. The chemical reactor comprises a shell with a heat source and one or more reformer tubes. The reformer tube is arranged to house catalyst material and is arranged to being heated by the heat source. The reformer tube comprises a first inlet for feeding said first feed stream into a first reforming reaction zone of the reformer tube, and a feed conduct arranged to allow a second feed stream into a second reforming reaction zone of the reformer tube. The second reforming reaction zone is positioned downstream of the first reforming reaction zone. The feed conduct is configured so that the second feed stream is only in contact with catalyst material in the second reforming reaction zone. The invention also relates to a process of producing CO rich synthesis gas at low S/C conditions.