According to embodiments, an apparatus for distributing solid particles into a tube includes a center member and a plurality of damper members connected to the center member. Each damper member includes a loop extending away from the center member. Each loop is arranged on the center member extending from a first position on the center member to a second position on the center member different from the first position in a longitudinal direction of the center member.

A dismountable and dismantlable loading system for loading a reactor with bulk material, is described. The dismantlable rail system with a multiplicity of rail segments can be connected to one another to form a self-contained rail system, wherein the individual rail segments have the ability to connect the rail segments to one another. Also provided is at least one rail vehicle for operation on the rail system, having a holding device for containers for receiving the bulk material, and at least one filling station for receiving the bulk material, having a hose present in the floor of the filling station for transporting the bulk material into various areas of the reactor.

A method of producing a composite product is provided. The method includes providing a fluidized bed of carbon-based particles in a fluidized bed reactor, providing a catalyst or catalyst precursor in the fluidized bed reactor, providing a carbon source in the fluidized bed reactor for growing carbon nanotubes, growing carbon nanotubes in a carbon nanotube growth zone of the fluidized bed reactor, and collecting a composite product comprising carbon-based particles and carbon nanotubes.

A catalytic reactor comprises a floating particle catcher unit and a particle catching surface which extracts particles from the fluid flow stream above the catalyst bed whereby at least a part of the particles settles on the particle catching surface instead of clogging the catalyst bed.

An air lance for removing pellets from tubes may include a nozzle with an inner surface having converging and diverging portions adjacent the downstream end of the nozzle to improve air flow. The air lance may include a projection fixed relative to the nozzle and extending beyond the downstream end of the nozzle to serve as a feeler, a poker, and a spacer.

Disclosed is a flow bypass device, a reactor system containing the flow bypass device; a method for operating a fixed bed of solid particles in which gas is re-routed to an interior of the fixed bed, for example, the flow bypass device is used to bypass a portion of the solid particles; and a method for loading solid particles and a flow bypass device into a vessel. The methods and systems can use a single flow bypass device or multiple flow bypass devices that are stacked on top of one another.

A restraint system configured to stabilize catalyst loading tubes. The restraint system includes a first restraint that has a first collar portion and a second collar portion. The restraint system further includes a first fastener configured to attach the first collar portion to a first tube segment and a second fastener configured to attach the second collar portion to the first tube segment. The restraint system also includes a first linkage having a first end and a second end, and a second linkage having a first end and a second end. The restraint system includes a second restraint having a third collar portion and a fourth collar portion. The restraint system further includes a third fastener and a fourth fastener. The first ends of the first and second linkage couple to the first restraint and the second ends of the first and second linkage couple to the second restraint.

An apparatus for producing hydrogen gas is provided. The apparatus includes a first hopper having a reaction chemical. The reaction chemical includes sodium borohydride (NaBH.sub.4) and a chemical component. The chemical component may be magnesium chloride (MgCl.sub.2). The apparatus also includes a reaction chamber. The reaction chamber has an input for receiving the reaction chemical from the first hopper and an output for removal of hydrogen gas. The apparatus also includes a second hopper for containing spent solid chemical mixture removed or extracted from the reaction chamber.

Disclosed is a flow bypass device, a reactor system containing the flow bypass device; a method for operating a fixed bed of solid particles in which gas is re-routed to an interior of the fixed bed, for example, the flow bypass device is used to bypass a portion of the solid particles; and a method for loading solid particles and a flow bypass device into a vessel. The methods and systems can use a single flow bypass device or multiple flow bypass devices that are stacked on top of one another.

A process for polymerizing ethylene in a high-pressure polymerization system having a continuously operated polymerization reactor and a reactor blow down system having an emergency valve, a reactor blow down vessel containing an aqueous medium and a reactor blow down dump vessel, wherein the process includes the steps of monitoring the polymerization system for a disturbance, opening the emergency valve when a disturbance occurs to allow the content of the polymerization system to expand into the reactor blow down vessel, contacting the content of the polymerization system in the reactor blow down vessel with the aqueous medium to obtain an aqueous polymer slurry, separating the polymer slurry and gaseous components, and transferring the polymer slurry to the reactor blow down dump vessel.