Methods and systems for alkylate production involving a multi-zone alkylation reactor. The multi-zone alkylation reactor includes a plurality of alkylation zones spaced vertically in a series configuration and a partition splitting the plurality of alkylation zones into at least two mechanically separated catalytic volumes.

Multi-reactor systems with aromatization reactor vessels containing a catalyst with low surface area and pore volume, followed in series by aromatization reactor vessels containing a catalyst with high surface area and pore volume, are disclosed. Related reforming methods using the different aromatization catalysts also are described.

Multi-reactor systems with aromatization reactor vessels containing a catalyst with low surface area and pore volume, followed in series by aromatization reactor vessels containing a catalyst with high surface area and pore volume, are disclosed. Related reforming methods using the different aromatization catalysts also are described.

An improved vortex-type mixing device for a down-flow hydroprocessing reactor is described. The device provides improved overall mixing efficiency of an existing mixing volume in the mixing of gas and liquid phases in two-phase systems while reducing the pressure drop through the device, as compared with prior art devices. Typical hydroprocessing applications include hydrotreating, hydrofinishing, hydrocracking and hydrodewaxing.

Processes for producing ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided. Specifically, a process is provided that comprises supplying an overhead absorber stream withdrawn from an absorber to a vapor-liquid separator to yield an aqueous bottoms stream and a recycle gas stream; supplying an aqueous process stream comprising one or more impurities to a distillation apparatus to yield an overhead impurities stream and a purified aqueous process stream; supplying at least a portion of the purified aqueous process stream and an ethylene oxide product stream to the absorber; and contacting the ethylene oxide product stream with the purified aqueous process stream in the absorber in the presence of one or more carboxylation and hydrolysis catalysts to yield a fat absorbent stream comprising ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol.

Systems and methods for sorbent enhanced reformation to produce high purity hydrogen. Such systems and methods utilize a reforming unit to process a feed containing methane and steam to produce a reformer product stream containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide, a sorbent unit to absorb at least a portion of the carbon dioxide from the reformer product stream to produce a sorbent unit product stream containing H.sub.2 and used sorbent, a first separation unit to separate H.sub.2 from the used sorbent, a calciner unit to calcine at least a portion of the used sorbent to form a calciner product stream containing regenerated sorbent material and residual gases, a second separation unit to separate the regenerated sorbent material from the residual gases, and a return line to return regenerated sorbent material to the sorbent unit.

A method of revamping vertical converters having a bolt-on flanged pressure shell extension for housing an internal heat exchanger is performed by replacing an existing pressure shell extension with a larger pressure shell extension for housing a plurality of internal heat exchangers.

A method of making light olefins is described. The method involves producing an alkyne in a pyrolysis process. The alkyne is catalytically hydrogenated in a hydrogenation zone to produce a product stream containing a light olefin. A byproduct stream from the pyrolysis process comprises carbon oxide and hydrogen. The byproduct stream is treated to convert the carbon oxide and the hydrogen to an oxygenated product in a carbon oxide conversion zone, which can then be converted to an olefin in an oxygenate to olefin process.

The present invention relates to a continuous process for preparing phosgene as well as a production unit for carrying out said process.

Described herein are improved chemical reactors for carrying out partial oxidation reactions. The chemical reactor permits the use of levels of oxygen above the lower explosion limit (LEL) typically used in partial oxidation reactions, which increases both volumetric reactivity and conversion per pass, resulting in reduced separation and reactant recycle costs. Also described are methods of using the reactors.