A support structure for a structured catalytic packing is disclosed. The support structure is in a fixed position relative to the reactor tube containing it. It supports catalyzed casings that are free to move relative to the support structure. The support structure and casings are inserted in the reactor tube such that the support structure is located proximate the longitudinal axis of the tube and the casings are located between the support structure and the reactor tube wall. The support structure comprises a central support tube or rod proximate to, and impervious or perforated discs perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of the reactor tube, and may comprise spacers separating the discs.

The invention involves a scale collection device that is located within downflow reactor head for removing solids from feed streams to increase reactor operating cycle time without impact on effective reactor space for catalyst loading. More particularly, a filtering zone is located in an upper portion of a reactor vessel above a rough liquid distribution tray and a distribution tray.

Embodiments include a system that may include a reactor including a reaction zone and a gas release zone separated by a selectively permeable membrane, wherein the selectively permeable membrane permits hydrogen to pass through the membrane and substantially blocks a substrate and its dehydrogenative coupling product from passing through the membrane. Embodiments further include a method of producing a dehydrogenative coupling product, wherein the method may include exposing a substrate to a catalyst in a reaction zone of a reactor; coupling the substrate to form the dehydrogenative coupling product and hydrogen; and separating the hydrogen from the dehydrogenative coupling product using a selectively permeable membrane and passing the hydrogen to a gas release zone of the reactor.

Integrated process comprising: synthesis of methanol from a methanol synthesis gas (12); synthesis of ammonia from an ammonia make-up gas (25), and synthesis of carbon monoxide from a methane-containing stream, wherein: the synthesis of methanol provides a liquid stream of methanol (13) and a gaseous stream (14) of unreacted synthesis gas; a portion (14a) of said gaseous stream is separated as purge gas; said purge gas is subjected to a hydrogen recovery step, providing a hydrogen-containing stream (19) which is used as a hydrogen source for making the ammonia make-up gas, and a tail gas (20) which is used as a methane source for the synthesis of carbon monoxide by oxidation of a methane-containing stream.

A method of testing a catalyst in a reactor comprises supplying a feedstock into an upstream end of the reactor and arranging an annular basket within the reactor at a downstream position in the reactor, the annular basket having a central aperture for receiving the flow of feedstock and plurality of stacked layers separated by fluid permeable material, the plurality of stacked layers including a layer of grading material positioned upstream of a layer containing a primary catalyst to be tested for a chemical process. The grading material is adapted to filter out contaminants within the feedstock and to thereby protect the primary catalyst within the basket. Embodiments and methods can utilize layers comprising a first layer containing the primary catalyst, a second layer containing a hydrometallization catalyst and a third layer containing grading material having solid trap particles with reduced catalytic activity.

A support structure for a structured catalytic packing is disclosed. The support structure is in a fixed position relative to the reactor tube containing it. It supports catalyzed casings that are free to move relative to the support structure. The support structure and casings are inserted in the reactor tube such that the support structure is located proximate the longitudinal axis of the tube and the casings are located between the support structure and the reactor tube wall. The support structure comprises a central support tube or rod proximate to, and impervious or perforated discs perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of the reactor tube, and may comprise spacers separating the discs.

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.

An apparatus for the production of hydrogen from a fuel source includes a combustor configured to receive a combustor fuel and convert the combustor fuel into a combustor heat; a reformer disposed annularly about the combustor, a removable structured catalyst support disposed within the gap and coated with a catalyst to induce combustor fuel combustion reactions that convert the combustor fuel to the combustor heat, and a combustor fuel injection aperture configured for mixing combustion fuel into the combustion catalyst. The combustor fuel injection aperture being disposed along a length of the combustion zone. The reformer and the combustor define a gap therebetween and the reformer is configured to receive the combustor heat.

In an adiabatic axial flow converter, in which process gas passes from an outer annulus via a catalyst bed, wherein the process gas is converted to a product, to an inner centre tube, the catalyst bed comprises at least one module comprising one or more catalyst layers. Feed means are arranged to provide a flow of process gas from the outer annulus to an inlet part of one or more modules, and collector means are arranged to provide a flow of product stream of converted process gas which passes axially through the catalyst bed of one or more of the modules to the centre tube.

A method of testing a catalyst in a reactor comprises supplying a feedstock into an upstream end of the reactor and arranging an annular basket within the reactor at a downstream position in the reactor, the annular basket having a central aperture for receiving the flow of feedstock and plurality of stacked layers separated by fluid permeable material, the plurality of stacked layers including a layer of grading material positioned upstream of a layer containing a primary catalyst to be tested for a chemical process. The grading material is adapted to filter out contaminants within the feedstock and to thereby protect the primary catalyst within the basket. Embodiments and methods can utilize layers comprising a first layer containing the primary catalyst, a second layer containing a hydrometallization catalyst and a third layer containing grading material having solid trap particles with reduced catalytic activity.