The expanded bed direct-contact system uses a multistage expanded bed chamber for heat exchange between heated particles, falling under the force of gravity, and an upwardly directed stream of cool fluid. As the heated particles fall through a plurality of vertically-arrayed stages of the multistage expanded bed chamber and exchange thermal energy with the stream of cool fluid, a stream of heated fluid, and a volume of cooled particles, are produced. Porous plates are respectively received within the stages of the multistage expanded bed chamber for increasing residence time of the particles, and the porous plates, as well as the plurality of stages, are connected to one another by a plurality of downcomers, each also formed from a porous material.

The expanded bed direct-contact system uses a multistage expanded bed chamber for heat exchange between heated particles, falling under the force of gravity, and an upwardly directed stream of cool fluid. As the heated particles fall through a plurality of vertically-arrayed stages of the multistage expanded bed chamber and exchange thermal energy with the stream of cool fluid, a stream of heated fluid, and a volume of cooled particles, are produced. Porous plates are respectively received within the stages of the multistage expanded bed chamber for increasing residence time of the particles, and the porous plates, as well as the plurality of stages, are connected to one another by a plurality of downcomers, each also formed from a porous material.

Systems and methods for generating hydrogen. The method includes activating an aluminum composition via alloying with at least one metal, reacting the activated aluminum composition in an aqueous ionic solution to produce hydrogen, and adding imidazole to the aqueous ionic solution and the activated aluminum composition to increase the reaction rate between the activated aluminum composition and the aqueous ionic solution.

Systems and methods for generating hydrogen. The method includes activating an aluminum composition via alloying with at least one metal, reacting the activated aluminum composition in an aqueous ionic solution to produce hydrogen, and adding imidazole to the aqueous ionic solution and the activated aluminum composition to increase the reaction rate between the activated aluminum composition and the aqueous ionic solution.

The present invention describes a catalytic reactor operating as a moving bed to manage interruptions in the circulation of catalyst while at the same time avoiding mechanical damage to the contact means containing the catalyst. The invention also concerns a refining or petrochemicals process using the reactor in accordance with the invention.

The present invention describes a catalytic reactor operating as a moving bed to manage interruptions in the circulation of catalyst while at the same time avoiding mechanical damage to the contact means containing the catalyst. The invention also concerns a refining or petrochemicals process using the reactor in accordance with the invention.

A system for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from a flue gas generated via combusting a fossil fuel is provided. The system includes a calcination chamber and a sealing-purger. The calcination chamber is configured to receive a plurality of loaded sorbent particles and a plurality of heat-transferring particles such that the loaded sorbent particles are heated within the calcination chamber so as to release carbon dioxide. The sealing-purger includes at least one gravity driven moving particle bed. The at least one gravity driven moving particle bed allows the plurality of heat-transferring particles or the plurality of sorbent particles to enter or leave the calcination chamber while restricting the flue gas from entering the calcination chamber and the released carbon dioxide particles from leaving the calcination chamber.

A hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The process includes passing a hydrocarbon stream through a plurality of reaction zones and a plurality of fired heaters, the effluent from a first reaction zone passing through one of the plurality of fired heaters before entering a second reaction zone. The plurality of fired heaters include a radiant section, an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold, at least one heater tube having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being in fluid communication with the inlet manifold and the outlet being in fluid communication with the outlet manifold, and at least one burner, the inlet manifold of one of the plurality of fired heaters being at a vertical height different from a vertical height of at least one of the other inlet manifolds or at least one of the outlet manifolds.

A hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The process includes passing a hydrocarbon stream through a plurality of reaction zones and a plurality of fired heaters, the effluent from a first reaction zone passing through one of the plurality of fired heaters before entering a second reaction zone. The plurality of fired heaters include a radiant section, an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold, at least one heater tube having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being in fluid communication with the inlet manifold and the outlet being in fluid communication with the outlet manifold, and at least one burner, the inlet manifold of one of the plurality of fired heaters being at a vertical height different from a vertical height of at least one of the other inlet manifolds or at least one of the outlet manifolds.

A baffle is installed on the wall of a regenerator vessel to push catalyst away from the wall to ensure adequate exposure to regeneration gas and complete combustion of coke from the catalyst. We have found that in deep beds, catalyst can flow down the walls and escape sufficient exposure to regeneration gas and undergo too little regeneration.