The present invention concerns reactors with a radial flow of process stream to be treated comprising improved internals which can be used to minimize the catalytic zones which do not receive any of the process stream which is to be treated. The invention also concerns the use of these radial flow reactors in refining or petrochemical processes.

Disclosed is a hydrocarbon conversion process in which an alkane component is catalytically converted in the presence of an oxygen or oxidizing component (i.e., oxidant). The hydrocarbon conversion process can be an oxidative coupling reaction, which refers to the catalytic conversion of alkane in the presence of oxidant to produce an olefin product, i.e., a composition containing C.sub.2+ olefin. Reverse-flow reactors can be used to carry out the oxidative coupling reaction.

Animal and seed based triglycerides are oils used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, animal feed, energy generation, etc. These triglycerides or glycerol esters are a mixture of triglycerides and free fatty esters (FFA) along with unsaponifiables and gums (MIU). FFA may range from very low, 1% or less, to more than 40% in some rendered animal oils. Corn oil from the wet or dry process of ethanol production may have from 7 to 15% FFA. The varying amount of FFA presents numerous process issues for downstream users of these oils especially in the production of biodiesel, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). FFA about 1 or 2% requires esterification as well as transesterification for the production of FAME. What is needed is a method to perform Glycerolysis. This disclosure describes an improved catalyst system as well as process equipment and operating conditions to allow economical commercialization of Glycerolysis.

The invention relates to synthesis of methyl carbamate (MC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) in presence of stripping inert gas or superheated methanol vapors using packed column reactor and bubble column reactor.

The invention relates to a catalytic reactor suited for exothermal reactions with a radial process fluid flow and process fluid flow guides which ensures an extended fluid flow path and higher flow velocity and thereby enhanced cooling of the catalyst bed in the reactor.

Animal and seed based triglycerides are oils used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, animal feed, energy generation, etc. These triglycerides or glycerol esters are a mixture of triglycerides and free fatty esters (FFA) along with unsaponifiables and gums (MIU). FFA may range from very low, 1% or less, to more than 40% in some rendered animal oils. Corn oil from the wet or dry process of ethanol production may have from 7 to 15% FFA. The varying amount of FFA presents numerous process issues for downstream users of these oils especially in the production of biodiesel, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). FFA about 1 or 2% requires esterification as well as transesterification for the production of FAME. What is needed is a method to perform Glycerolysis. This disclosure describes an improved catalyst system as well as process equipment and operating conditions to allow economical commercialization of Glycerolysis.

The method serves for producing a horizontal through flow adsorber with two adsorbents which contains two immediately adjacent packings in a horizontal or vertical container. Between the two packings there is a vertical interface. In a step (a) a vertical dividing wall is positioned on the bottom of the adsorption bed and then on each side of the dividing wall one of the two adsorbents is charged up to a first height that does not exceed the upper edge of the separating ring. In the following step (b) the vertical dividing wall is displaced upwardly until the lower edge thereof is still placed in the existing packing. Then, on each side of the dividing wall one of the two adsorbents is charged up to a second height that does not exceed the upper edge of the displaced dividing wall. Finally, step (b) is repeated until a predetermined filling height is achieved. According to the invention, the vertical dividing wall is composed of at least three dividing wall modules (6.01) that extend only over a part of the length or of the periphery of the vertical dividing wall and are movable in a vertical direction independently of one another.

A method of manufacturing synthesis gas by catalytic partial oxidation can prevent formation of hot spots from taking place when driving mixture gas to pass through a catalyst-filled layer at high velocity. The method comprises converting mixture gas of source gas containing lower hydrocarbons and oxidative gas containing oxygen into synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide as main components thereof by causing mixture gas to flow through a fixed bed catalyst layer arranged in a reactor. The method of manufacturing synthesis gas by catalytic partial oxidation is conducted such that the mixture gas is made to flow to the catalyst layer under the condition that the Reynolds number does not exceed 20 at the inlet of the catalyst layer.

The invention relates to synthesis of methyl carbamate (MC) and dimethyl carabonate (DMC) in presence of stripping inert gas or superheated methanol vapors using packed column reactor and bubble column reactor.

Fuel converters configured to convert a transportation fuel to a low-C hydrocarbon fuel, along with methods of their use, are provided. The fuel converter can comprise: an evaporator configured to receive a transportation fuel from a fuel tank in a liquid state, wherein the evaporator converts the transportation fuel from a liquid to a gas; a fuel burner configured to heat the evaporator; a catalyst cartridge in fluid communication with the evaporator so as to receive the gas from the evaporator; and a condenser in fluid communication with the catalyst cartridge so as to receive the reaction product mixture from the catalyst cartridge. The catalyst cartridge comprises a catalyst configured to convert the transportation fuel into a reaction product mixture comprising a low-C hydrocarbon fuel. The condenser is configured to separate the low-C hydrocarbon fuel from a condensed fuel in the reaction product mixture.