This invention relates to processes and systems for converting acyclic hydrocarbons to alkenes, cyclic hydrocarbons and/or aromatics, for example converting acyclic C.sub.5 hydrocarbons to cyclopentadiene in a reactor system. The process includes heating an electrically-conductive reaction zone by applying an electrical current to the first electrically-conductive reaction zone; and contacting a feedstock comprising acyclic hydrocarbons with a catalyst material in the electrically-conductive reaction zone under reaction conditions to convert at least a portion of the acyclic hydrocarbons to an effluent comprising alkenes, cyclic hydrocarbons, and/or aromatics.

A hydrogen producing apparatus includes a reforming unit, a feed unit, and a heating unit. The reforming unit includes a casing defining a receiving space and having gas intake and outlet ports, a plurality of reformers disposed in the receiving space, at least one gas pipe winding around one of the reformers, and a connecting pipe in fluidic communication with the gas pipe. The feed unit is in fluidic communication with the reformers and the connecting pipe such that air delivered from the gas intake port through the gas pipe and the connecting pipe is mixed with a fuel in the feed unit to form a reactant mixture to be fed to the reformers for hydrogen production. The heating unit includes a heater connected to the casing.

A catalyst support may be provided that comprises: an inner core, which includes at least one phase change material; a coating layer around the inner core, which includes at least one metal oxide; a catalytically active layer, which is positioned in interstices of the coating layer and/or lying on the coating layer, wherein at least one catalytically active substance is included in the catalytically active layer; and a supporting layer which is positioned under the coating layer. A recycle reactor may be provided comprising a reservoir for accommodating a chemical hydrogen storage substance; the catalyst support; a screw conveyor for input and transport of the catalyst support; and a heating device with which the catalyst support can be heated. A method for releasing hydrogen from a chemical hydrogen storage substance may be provided.

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for direct electrical heating of process heaters tubes (e.g., reactor tubes) using galvanic isolation techniques. The disclosure is also directed to systems and methods for direct electrical heating of process heaters tubes wherein the tubes are galvanically isolated in such a manner as to avoid the use of electrical insulation of the tube from the rest of the system, such as the other tubes, the tube inlet header and/or the tube outlet header, and the reactor shell.

A reactor system for carrying out steam reforming of a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons, including: a structured catalyst arranged for catalyzing steam reforming of a feed gas including hydrocarbons, the structured catalyst including a macroscopic structure of electrically conductive material, the macroscopic structure supporting a ceramic coating, wherein the ceramic coating supports a catalytically active material; a pressure shell housing the structured catalyst; heat insulation layer between the structured catalyst and the pressure shell; at least two conductors electrically connected to the macroscopic structure and to an electrical power supply placed outside the pressure shell, wherein the electrical power supply is dimensioned to heat at least part of the structured catalyst to a temperature of at least 500 C. by passing an electrical current through the macroscopic structure. Also, a process for steam reforming of a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons.

A multi-tubular chemical reactor includes an igniter for the initiation of gas phase exothermic reaction within the gas phase reaction zones of the tubular reactor units.

A process for dehydrogenating a paraffinic feedstock, producing olefins and/or dienes. The process includes feeding a paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising one or more C2+ paraffinic hydrocarbons and a fuel gas stream to a dehydrogenation reactor preheater, combusting the fuel gas stream in the dehydrogenation reactor preheater and heating the paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock to a temperature in the range of 500-650? C., producing a heated paraffinic feedstock, feeding the heated paraffinic feedstock to a first dehydrogenation reactor operating in a reaction mode and containing an active dehydrogenation catalyst and at least one first electrical heating element, heating the heated paraffinic feedstock in the first dehydrogenation reactor using the at least one first electrical heating element, and contacting the heated paraffinic feedstock with the active dehydrogenation catalyst and the at least one electrical heating element thereby producing an olefinic product stream comprising one or more olefins.

A multi-tubular chemical reactor (400) includes an igniter (435) for the initiation of gas phase exothermic reaction within the gas phase reaction zones (409) of the tubular reactor units (408). A method of carrying out a gas phase exothermic reaction within the multi-tubular chemical reactor comprising: introducing gaseous reactants into a tubular reactor unit (408); initiating with radiant heat an exothermic reaction of the gaseous reactants within the reactor unit; and transferring heat produced by the exothermic reaction occurring within the gas phase reaction zone of the reactor unit to the gas phase reaction zone of one or more adjacent reactor units (408), thereby initiating an exothermic reaction within at least one adjacent reactor unit (408) until in such manner an exothermic reaction has been initiated in each of the plurality of spaced-apart reactor units (408).

A dual utilization liquid and gaseous fuel CPOX reformer that includes reaction zones for the CPOX reforming of liquid and gaseous reformable fuels. A reforming method is also provided. The method comprises reforming a first gaseous reformable reaction mixture comprising oxygen-containing gas and vaporized liquid fuel and before or after this step, reforming second gaseous reformable reaction mixture comprising oxygen-containing gas and gaseous fuel to produce a hydrogen-rich reformate.

A reactor vessel is provided having a solids feed opening for particulate graphite and a product outlet for purified particulate graphite. The vessel has an interior volume for containing the graphite particles, with a plurality of gas feed openings at the bottom of the interior volume, near the centre-line, for feeding of chlorine-containing gas, wherein the chlorine-containing gas passes through the particulate graphite, fluidizing the particulate graphite. Electrodes are provided which function to heat the particulate graphite, as it is carried upwards under the fluidizing effect of the centrally injected chlorine-containing gas. When the heated graphite particles react with the chlorine gas, purified particulate graphite is formed and may be extracted through the product outlet.