The present invention relates to a method of subjecting a biomass feedstock to hydropyrolysis, the method at least comprising the steps of: a) supplying a biomass feedstock and a fluidizing gas comprising hydrogen to a bulk reactor zone of a fluidized bed reactor containing a deoxygenating catalyst; b) subjecting the biomass feedstock in the bulk reactor zone of the fluidized bed reactor to a hydropyrolysis reaction by contacting the biomass feedstock with the deoxygenating catalyst in the presence of the fluidizing gas, thereby obtaining a hydropyrolysis reactor output comprising at least one non-condensable gas, a partially deoxygenated hydropyrolysis product and char; wherein the bulk reactor zone is cooled by means of a cooling fluid flowing through a plurality of tubes running through the bulk reactor zone, the plurality of tubes having inlets into and outlets from the bulk reactor zone; and wherein the cooling fluid flowing in the tubes at the point (‘A’) where the biomass feedstock enters the bulk reactor zone has a temperature of at least 320° C., preferably at least 340° C., more preferably at least 350° C., even more preferably at least 370° C., yet even more preferably at least 380° C.

A vaporizer includes an outer tube configured to receive a flow of heated gas and an inner tube disposed at least partially within the outer tube. The inner tube is spaced apart from the outer tube such that the flow of heated gas is channeled through an annular space therebetween. The vaporizer also includes a crucible disposed at least partially within the inner tube. The crucible is extendable and retractable relative to the inner tube and within the outer tube. The crucible is configured to hold a molten metal such that a surface area of the molten metal exposed to the flow of heated gas is adjustable based on the position of the crucible relative to the inner tube. A heater is configured to vaporize the molten material and the vapor mixes with the flow of heated gas.

Methods of heating a reactor system by providing electrical energy are described. A reactor system comprising at least one reactor tube having a catalyst disposed therein and comprises at least one electrically conductive surface is heated by providing electrical energy to the at least one electrically conductive surface on the reactor tube and adjusting a current level of the electrical energy provided to the at least one electrically conductive surface to control the temperature of the reactor tube and the catalyst disposed therein. The reactor tube may be electrically isolated from other electrically conductive components of the reactor system.

An electrically heated reactor is a tube surrounded by electrical heating means having radiative sheeting placed coaxially with regard to the reactor tube. The surface area of the sheeting facing the outer surface area of the reactor tube defines an inner surface area covering at least 60% of the reactor tube outer surface area. The distance between the reactor tube and the heating means is selected such that the ratio between the inner surface area of the electrical heating means to the reactor tube outer surface area is in the range of 0.7 to 3.0. The reactor is useful in many industrial scale high temperature gas conversion and heating technologies.

A reactor system and a process for carrying out reverse water gas shift reaction of a feedstock comprising CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 to a first product gas comprising CO are provided, where a methanation reaction take place in parallel to the reverse water gas shift reaction, and where the heat for the endothermic reverse water gas shift reaction is provided by resistance heating.

Electric-powered, closed-loop, continuous-feed, endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a shaftless auger. In another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a drag conveyor. In yet another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a distillation and/or fractionating stage. The endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods feature mechanisms for natural resource recovery, refining, and recycling, such as secondary recovery of metals, minerals, nutrients, and/or carbon char.

Methods and systems for treating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated in a hydrocarbon treating process are disclosed. An effluent stream containing the VOCs, as well as carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) is combined with hot exhaust gas from a turbine and provided to a waste heat recovery unit (WHRU). The WHRU is adapted to contain a catalyst bed containing oxidation catalyst capable of effecting the oxidation of the VOCs. The temperature of the catalyzing reaction can be tailored based on the position of the catalyst bed within the temperature gradient of the WHRU. The methods and systems described herein solve the problem of effecting the removal of VOCs from the effluent. Heating the CO.sub.2-containing effluent in the WHRU also lend buoyancy to the effluent, thereby facilitating its dispersal upon release.

The invention relates to an integrated process for assessing one or more properties of a catalyst. In the method, a standard chemical reactor or reactors is/are provided, and a bypass means is also provided, to transport a sample of whatever is added to the industrial reactor, to the test reactor. Both gases and liquids are transferred to the test reactor.

In a method, device, catalyst and a method for producing a catalyst for the catalytic conversion of a substance mixture containing glycerol to propanol in a fixed-bed reactor, substrates of the catalyst have inorganic materials and/or metal oxides. The substrates have a pore diameter at the surface of between 10 and 25 angstroms, preferably between 12 and 20 angstroms, particularly preferably 15 angstroms.

The invention pertains to a device for determination of a catalyst state in a chemical reactor and to a method for detecting a catalyst state under in situ reaction conditions. A reactor is provided with a solid catalyst provided in a reactor chamber. A fluid sample is taken from the reactor chamber and is transferred to a sample chamber. The temperature at the extraction site of the sample in the reactor chamber is determined and the temperature of the sample chamber is adjusted to the same temperature. A small amount of the catalyst provided in reactor chamber is provided in sample chamber and is contacted with the sample flow. Spectroscopic information is then obtained on the catalyst provided in sample cell, e.g. by an IR spectrometer.