The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a polymer by a flow-type reaction. The method includes introducing a liquid A of an anionic polymerizable monomer, a liquid B of an anionic polymerization initiator, and a polymerization terminator into different flow paths, allowing the liquids to flow in the flow paths, allowing the liquid A and the liquid B to join together, subjecting the monomer to anionic polymerization while the liquids having joined together are flowing to downstream in a reaction flow path, and allowing a solution, which is obtained by the polymerization reaction and flows in the reaction flow path, and the polymerization terminator to join together so as to terminate the polymerization reaction and to obtain a polymer having a number-average molecular weight of 5,000 to 200,000. A static mixer is disposed in the reaction flow path, and a polymer having a number-average molecular weight equal to or greater than 2,000 is introduced into an inlet port of the mixer. The present invention also provides a flow-type reaction system suitable for performing the manufacturing method.

A reformer reactor is provided for converting hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen rich gas by auto-thermal reaction process having a cylindrically shaped and double walled, housing with two side faces forming a reaction chamber of the reformer. Additionally, a fuel inlet is provided in one of the two side faces for providing hydrocarbon fuels into the reaction chamber, wherein further a fuel preheating means is provided which preheats the hydrocarbon fuel before the hydrocarbon fuel enters the reaction chamber.

A pyrolytic reactor comprising a fuel injection zone, a combustion zone adjacent to the fuel injections zone, an expansion zone adjacent to the combustion zone, a feedstock injection zone comprising a plurality of injection nozzles and disposed adjacent to the expansion zone, a mixing zone configured to mix a carrier stream and feed material and disposed adjacent to the feedstock injection zone, and a reaction zone adjacent to the mixing zone. The plurality of injection nozzles are radially distributed in a first assembly defining a first plane transverse to the feedstock injection zone and in a second assembly transverse to the feedstock injection zone.

The invention discloses a method for producing bio-fuel (BF) from a high-viscosity biomass using thermo-chemical conversion of the biomass in a production line (10) with pumping means (PM), heating means (HM) and cooling means (CM). The method has the steps of 1) operating the pumping means, the heating means and the cooling means so that the production line is under supercritical fluid conditions (SCF) to induce biomass conversion in a conversion zone (CZ) within the production line, and 2) operating the pumping means so that at least part of the production line is in an oscillatory flow (OF) mode. The invention is advantageous for providing an improved method for producing biofuel from a high-viscosity biomass. This is performed by an advantageous combination of two operating modes: supercritical fluid (SCF) conditions and oscillatory flow (OF).

The present invention relates to the field of heat exchangers, especially those having a plurality of tubular fluid channels formed as intertwined coils, with each of the centre paths of the coils forming a helix, and to a reactor for supercritical water oxidation comprising such a heat exchanger.

Apparatus for undertaking a chemical reaction includes an elongate housing and a receptacle. The elongate housing may include a cooling means, and end fittings, which may include ports where fluids may be introduced and/or removed. In use of the apparatus, a chemical reaction product is formed within the receptacle. Subsequently the receptacle containing the chemical reaction product is withdrawn from the elongate housing.

A process for preparation of a polymer product comprising the steps of i) feeding an aqueous mixture comprising a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer or a mixture of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers into a first reactor device (2) through at least one inlet; ii) partially polymerizing the monomer or monomers and transferring the polymerizing monomer or mixture of monomers from the inlet to an outlet (3) of the first reactor device (2) to provide a partially polymerized product; iii) flowing the partially polymerized product out of the outlet (3), in which no more than 60% of the monomer or mixture of monomers has been polymerized in the partially polymerized product as it exits the outlet (3) of first reactor device (2), and transferring it to a further reactor device (5), in which the further reactor device (5) has an inlet and an outlet (6);
iv) continuing the polymerization in the further reactor device (5) and removing the polymer product from the outlet (6) of the further reactor device (5),
characterized in that the first reactor device (2) comprises a positive displacement pump.

The present invention concerns a reactor and a process for the hydrothermal treatment of an aqueous mixture, such as watery biomass. The reactor according to the invention comprises (31) an inlet for receiving the aqueous mixture, (32) a tube-shaped reactor interior, which is inclined at an angle in the range of 1-45°; (33) a first zone in the reactor interior (32) comprising means (5) for heating the aqueous mixture; (34) a second zone in the reactor interior (32) for keeping the aqueous mixture at the predetermined temperature; (35) a third zone in the reactor interior (32) for cooling the aqueous mixture; (38) an outlet for discharging a hydrothermally treated aqueous mixture, and (43) an outlet for discharging gas, wherein inlet (31) and outlet (43) are positioned at the top part of the reactor and outlet (38) at the bottom part of the reactor. The inclined nature of the reactor ensures that all gases are efficiently removed from the liquid effluent, and the CO.sub.2 formed during the process is used to improved efficacy of the hydrothermal treatment.

A fluid flow conduit comprises a flow-shaping element shaped to control the velocity distribution of fluid flowing therethrough. A conduit body is shaped to define a longitudinally oriented interior flow region. The flow-shaping element comprises a flow-shaping channel shaped to provide a first curved channel portion curved about a longitudinal axis in a first angular direction to impart angular momentum about the longitudinal axis in the first angular direction on fluid flow therethrough. The flow-shaping channel may be shaped to provide a second curved channel portion that is curved about the longitudinal axis in a second angular direction (opposed to the first angular direction) to impart angular momentum about the longitudinal axis in the second angular direction on fluid flow therethrough. The flow-shaping channel may be shaped to provide one or more slits that communicate fluid between the first and second curved channel portions and a central bore portion.

A process and apparatus for converting an alkane to an olefin. In one embodiment, the process involves oxidative coupling of an alkane, e.g., methane, with an oxidant, such as air, to produce an olefin having twice the number of carbon atoms as the alkane, e.g., ethylene. In another embodiment, the process involves oxidative dehydrogenation of an alkane, e.g., ethane, with an oxidant to form an olefin having the same number of carbon atoms as the alkane, e.g., ethylene. The process involves passing a flow of the oxidant from a first flow passage through a porous medium; diffusing a flow of the alkane from a second flow passage into the porous medium; and contacting the reactant alkane and the oxidant in the presence of a catalyst within the porous medium to produce the olefin.