The present disclosure relates to reactor components and their use, e.g., in regenerative reactors. A process and apparatus for utilizing different wetted areas along the flow path of a fluid in a pyrolysis reactor, e.g., a thermally regenerating reactor, such as a regenerative, reverse-flow reactor, is described.

Systems and methods are provided for conversion of methane and/or other hydrocarbons to hydrogen by pyrolysis while reducing or minimizing production of carbon oxides. The conversion of hydrocarbons to hydrogen is performed in one or more pyrolysis or conversion reactors that contain a plurality of sequential fluidized beds. The fluidized beds are arranged so that the coke particles forming the fluidized bed move in a counter-current direction relative to the gas phase flow of feed (e.g., methane) and/or product (H.sub.2) in the fluidized beds. By using a plurality of sequential fluidized beds, the heat transfer and management benefits of fluidized beds can be realized while also at least partially achieving the improved reaction rates that are associated with a plug flow or moving bed reactor.

A method for manufacturing solketal ((2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methanol) includes: (1) milling starting reagents, including at least: glycerol, a catalyst selected from a hard Lewis acid including at least one transition metal, and acetone, the molar ratio (glycerol):(acetone) being less than or equal to 0.8; preferably less than or equal to 0.7, at an ambient temperature greater than or equal to 50 C., preferably greater than or equal to 56 C., in a three-dimensional microbead mill in a liquid phase for a residence time less than or equal to 15 minutes, preferably less than or equal to 10 minutes, and in particular less than or equal to 5 minutes; (2) recovering, as output from the mill, a final composition including solketal and, where appropriate, one or more sub-products corresponding to the starting reagents that have not reacted and/or to 1,3-O-isopropylidene-glycerol, and (3) optionally, separating the solketal from the one or more sub-products.

Catalyst beds in refinery reactors require periodic change out due to build-up of contamination and loss of activity. The instant invention mists a liquid chemical solvent in nitrogen carrier gas to solubilize oils and heavy hydrocarbons and to further desorb light hydrocarbons and remove hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2S), to effect decontamination. This process can be advantageously combined with nitrogen cool-down processes in preparation for catalyst unloading.

A system includes a pyrolysis reactor containing a bed of particulates, a solids heating section, and a separator in fluid communication with the pyrolysis reactor through the product gas outlet. The pyrolysis reactor comprises a feed gas inlet at a lower portion of the bed, a product gas outlet above the bed, a particulate outlet above the feed gas inlet, a particulate inlet near the top of the bed, and a solids product outlet in a lower portion of the pyrolysis reactor. The solids heating section is configured to accept a portion of the particulates from the pyrolysis reactor through the particulate outlet, heat the portion of the particulates to form heated particulates, and return the heated particulates to the pyrolysis reactor through the particulate inlet, and the separator is configured to separate any particulates in a product gas produced, and return the particulates to the pyrolysis reactor.