A load-following reactor system and associated facilities for improved control of a reactor under varying loads. The load-following reactor may be a tube-cooled reactor for methanol synthesis. A reactant may be controlled by at least one valve element such that a portion of the reactant is fed to the reactor through the reactor tubes, and a portion of the reactant is fed to the reactor after being heated in a heat exchanger. The heated portion of the reactant may be fed to the reactor after the tubes. The valve element may be controlled based on a temperature of the reactor and/or a flowrate of reactant feed to adapt the temperature of the reactor to the changing reactant flowrate.

A method for carrying out catalytic gas phase reactions including providing a tube bundle reactor which has a bundle of reaction tubes that are filled with a catalyst charge and are cooled by a heat transfer medium, conveying a reaction gas through the catalyst charge, the reaction gas flowing into each reaction tube divided into two part flows introduced in the axial direction of the reaction tube at different points in the catalyst charge the catalyst charge has at least two catalyst layers of different activity, wherein the activity of the first catalyst layer, in the flow direction of the reaction gas, is lower than the activity of the at least one other catalyst layer and in step a first part flow is introduced into the first catalyst layer and each further part flow is introduced past the first catalyst layer into the at least one further catalyst layer.

A tubular reactor comprises a catalytic powder bed confined in an annular space delimited by an inner wall and an outer wall, the insert comprises a distribution chamber and a collection chamber, separated by at least one first partition wall, the distribution chamber comprising distribution compartments separated from one another by second partition walls, each distribution compartment and the collection chamber comprising, respectively, an intake opening and a discharge opening, the inner wall comprises distributing openings and a collecting opening, each distributing opening enabling the distribution of a gas towards the annular space, and the collecting opening enabling the collection of the gas distributed in the annular space by the collection chamber.

The invention relates to a reformer furnace for catalytic reforming of a carbon-containing input material with steam. The reformer furnace has a steel construction which serves as a framework for a refractory lining and for the fastening of burners, reformer tubes and supply and discharge lines. The burners and reformer tubes are arranged in rows, parallel to one another and in alternating fashion. The steel construction includes a plurality of main carrier units, wherein each main carrier unit has at least two vertically extending supports and a horizontally extending main carrier which connects the supports. This type of steel construction makes it possible to achieve uniform spacing of the reformer tubes and burners over the entire reformer furnace. This results in advantages in terms of the maximum operating temperature of the reformer tubes, thereby extending their service life.

Disclosed herein are methane conversion devices that achieve autothermal conditions and related methods using the methane conversion devices.

A steam reforming catalyst that includes treated black powder (primarily hematite), and a method of treating black powder (e.g., from a natural gas pipeline) to give the treated black powder. A steam reformer having the treated black powder as reforming catalyst, and a method of producing syngas with the steam reformer.

A autothermal reforming catalyst that includes treated black powder (primarily hematite), and a method of treating black powder (e.g., from a natural gas pipeline) to give the treated black powder. An autothermal reformer having the treated black powder as reforming catalyst, and a method of producing syngas with the autothermal reformer.

An ethylene oxide (EO) reactor is provided in which a removable impingement basket is configured to be inserted into the reactor inlet pipe of the EO reactor. The removable impingement basket provides protection for the silver-based catalyst filled tubes and other components that are present inside the EO reactor as well as providing another access point into the EO reactor. The removable impingement basket also can provide better distribution of the inlet gas as compared to an EO reactor containing a non-removable impingement plate.

A method of installing a temperature measuring device inside a reactor tube while filling the tube with catalyst is provided. The method includes inserting a positioning system, including a single inflatable bladder connected at a central location to a centering ring, into a reactor tube, the reactor tube comprising a distal end and a proximal end. Then inserting the centering ring around the temperature measurement device. Then locating the positioning system at a first predetermined distance from the distal end, and inflating the single inflatable bladder, thereby centering the centering ring and the temperature measurement device within the SMR tube. Then introducing catalyst into the SMR tube, thereby enclosing the temperature measurement device in catalyst.

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