A method for analyzing a catalyst in a catalytic reactor that operates under non-isothermal conditions includes the steps of: positioning a catalyst basket within a catalyst bed within the catalytic reactor, the catalyst basket containing catalyst material the forms the catalyst bed; operating the catalytic reactor, the catalyst basket having dimensions such that a temperature difference (ΔT) along an axial direction (height) of the catalyst basket is non-isothermal; and analyzing the catalyst material contained within the catalyst basket. The temperature difference (ΔT) is, in one embodiment, within a range of 1° C. to 40° C. and preferably, within a range of 5° C. to 25° C.

A reactor for hydrocarbon production that separates wax reaction products from lightweight gaseous reaction products. The reactor has a housing, a catalyst bed, a product recovery zone, and a stripping zone. The catalyst bed can be provided in multi-tubular and other fixed bed configurations. The stripping zone receives light-weight gas reaction products from the product recovery zone, while a gas outlet of the housing receives non-lightweight gaseous hydrocarbon reaction products from the product recovery zone. A wax outlet of the housing receives wax products from the product recovery zone.

Disclosed herein is a solar reactor comprising a reactor member; an aperture for receiving solar radiation, the aperture being disposed in a plane on a wall of the reactor member, where the plane is oriented at any angle other than parallel relative to the centerline of the reactor member; a plurality of absorber tubes, wherein the absorber tubes are oriented such that their respective centerlines are at an angle other than 90° relative to the centerline of the reactor member; and wherein the aperture has a hydraulic diameter that is from 0.2 to 4 times a hydraulic diameter of at least one absorber tube in the plurality of absorber tubes; and a reactive material, the reactive material being disposed in the plurality of absorber tubes.

A device for centering a temperature measurement device inside a tube reactor that will be filled with catalyst, including a single inflatable bladder mechanically and fluidically attached to a centering ring.

A system for reducing dioxygen (O.sub.2) present in vapors from oil storage tanks. The system may include an inlet that receives vapors from the tanks; a heating device coupled with the inlet that heats vapors to a first temperature to form heated vapor; and a vessel coupled receiving heated vapor and containing at least one catalyst to reduce dioxygen from the heated vapor. The catalyst may include palladium, and the vessel may include zinc oxide to remove sulfur from the heated vapor. A compressor may be used to compress the vapors. A controller may be provided to monitor O.sub.2 concentration in heated vapor, and the controller directs flow of heated vapor to a gas pipeline if the O.sub.2 concentration is below a predetermined level; or if the O.sub.2 concentration is unacceptably high, the controller directs flow of vapor to be re-circulated within the system to further reduce O.sub.2 concentration therein.

A process for supplying deaerated water to a chemical plant that includes a distillation column for separating a reaction effluent comprising water and a product. The process includes inventorying the distillation column with aerated water (water having an oxygen content of greater than 50 ppbw, such as greater than 1 ppmw). The aerated water in the distillation column may then be distilled to produce an oxygen-containing overheads and a bottoms fraction comprising deaerated water. The deaerated water in the bottoms fraction ma be transported to an upstream or a downstream unit operation, and utilizing the deaerated water in the upstream or downstream unit operation. The reaction effluent is fed to the distillation column, transitioning the distillation column from separating oxygen from water to operations for separating the product from the water.

An ammonia oxidation catalyst basket design has two support grids. A first grid supports the primary catalyst and a separate, second grid supports the secondary catalyst. This dual grid design separates the two catalysts, and enables the catalysts to be independent of each other. Any interruption in the primary or the secondary catalyst does not impede or adversely impact on the structure or function of the other catalyst.

A device D accommodated in a reactor R and containing a gas- and/or liquid-permeable bottom B, in the peripheral region of which is arranged a lateral boundary W which completely surrounds the bottom B and forms a volume V which is partially or completely filled with catalytic and/or non-catalytic moldings, there optionally being located on the side facing the bottom B in the upstream direction at least one noble metal and/or non-noble metal fabric, wherein a thermal insulation layer S is located on at least part of the surface of the inner side of the lateral boundary W of the device D, the material for the thermal insulation layer S being selected from the group consisting of ceramic material, microporous material and silicate fibers.

The invention relates to a catalyst system for producing maleic anhydride by means of the catalytic oxidation of n-butane, comprising at least one reactor tube, which has two catalyst layers consisting of different catalyst particles, characterized in that the geometric surface area per catalyst particle is greater in the catalyst layer that is first in the gas flow direction than in the second catalyst layer. The invention further relates to a process for producing maleic anhydride by means of the catalytic oxidation of n-butane, wherein a mixture of oxygen and n-butane is fed through the catalyst system according to the invention and the at least one reactor tube is at elevated temperature.

Process and apparatus for producing a hydrogen-containing product by steam-hydrocarbon reforming of multiple hydrocarbon feedstocks in a production facility utilizing a prereformer in addition to the primary reformer. The temperature of the reactant mixture introduced into the prereformer is controlled depending on the composition of the reactant mixture fed to the prereformer.