The invention relates to hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to equipment and materials useful for hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon pyrolysis, and to the use of hydrocarbon pyrolysis for, e.g., hydrocarbon upgrading.

A reactor (1) for thermochemical reactions is provided comprising a reactor shell (13) having an inlet (2) and an outlet (3). Solid catalyst (16) is provided in reaction zones (4a, 4b, 4c) in which at least a portion of reactants entering the reactor (1) undergo a thermochemical reaction. A heat exchange medium is provided in heat exchange zones such that heat is exchanged between the reaction zones (4a, 4b, 4c) and the heat exchange medium. One or more hollow inserts (11) at least partially extend through the reaction zones (4a, 4b, 4c). The hollow inserts (11) are configured to form a flow path to either: divert a portion of the reactants from the reactor inlet (2) or from one reaction zone to a different reaction zone; or divert a portion of the heat exchange medium from one heat exchange zone to a different heat exchange zone.

A process includes reacting, in a reactor having a fixed bed containing a solid catalyst which contains a heterogeneous ion exchange resin, hydrogen sulfide and ethylene oxide in the presence of the solid catalyst to yield a reaction product which contains beta-mercaptoethanol. A reactor system includes the reactor, an ethylene oxide stream, a hydrogen sulfide stream, a fixed bed containing the solid catalyst placed in the reactor, and an effluent stream containing the reaction product. During steady state operation of the reactor in the process and the reactor system, the hydrogen sulfide and the ethylene oxide are present in a mole ratio in a range of about 9:1 to about 20:1.

A multi-stage product gas generation system converts a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas which may subsequently be converted into a liquid fuel or other material. One or more reactors containing bed material may be used to conduct reactions to effect the conversions. Unreacted inert feedstock contaminants present in the carbonaceous material may be separated from bed material using a portion of the product gas. A heat transfer medium collecting heat from a reaction in one stage may be applied as a reactant input in another, earlier stage.

Reforming alcohol is disclosed. Alcohol is introduced into a conduit of an alcohol reformer so that the alcohol flows through a catalyst stage within the conduit. The catalyst stage includes an alcohol reforming catalyst, and a heat transfer member comprising thermally conductive material. The heat transfer member is in thermal contact with the conduit and the alcohol reforming catalyst. Simultaneously, exhaust gas is introduced from an internal combustion engine into an exhaust channel. The exhaust gas in the exhaust channel contacts fins extending outward from the conduit so that heat from the exhaust gas is transferred through the fins, the conduit, and the heat transfer member to the alcohol reforming catalyst.

The invention relates to hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to equipment and materials useful for hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon pyrolysis, and to the use of hydrocarbon pyrolysis for, e.g., hydrocarbon upgrading.

Processes and associated reaction systems for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane are provided. In particular, a process is provided that comprises supplying a feed gas comprising ethane and oxygen to a multitubular fixed-bed reactor and allowing the ethane and oxygen to react in the presence of an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst to yield a reactor effluent comprising ethylene; and supplying a coolant to an interior shell space of the multitubular fixed-bed reactor in a flow pattern that is co-current with the flow of the feed gas through reactor.

Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for controlling heat for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The apparatus comprises a reheater for containing a fluidized bubbling bed comprising an oxygen-containing gas, inorganic heat carrier particles, and char and for burning the char into ash to form heated inorganic particles. An inorganic particle cooler is in fluid communication with the reheater to receive a first portion of the heated inorganic particles. The inorganic particle cooler is configured to receive a cooling medium for indirect heat exchange with the first portion of the heated inorganic particles to form first partially-cooled heated inorganic particles that are fluidly communicated to the reheater and combined with a second portion of the heated inorganic particles to form second partially-cooled heated inorganic particles. A reactor is in fluid communication with the reheater to receive the second partially-cooled heated inorganic particles.

Processes and associated reaction systems for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane are provided. In particular, a process is provided that comprises supplying a feed gas comprising ethane and oxygen to a multitubular fixed-bed reactor, allowing the ethane and oxygen to react in the presence of an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst to yield a reactor effluent comprising ethylene; supplying a coolant to an upstream region of an interior shell space of the reactor in a flow pattern that is counter-current with the flow of the feed gas; and withdrawing the coolant from the upstream region and supplying at least a portion of the coolant withdrawn from the upstream region to the downstream region in a flow pattern that is co-current with the flow of the feed gas.

The present invention relates to a process for the continuous preparation of a polyolefin from one or more -olefin monomers in a reactor system, the process for the continuous preparation of polyolefin comprising the steps of: feeding a polymerization catalyst to a fluidized bed through an inlet for a polymerization catalyst; feeding the one or more monomers to the reactor, polymerizing the one or more monomers in the fluidized bed to prepare the polyolefin; withdrawing polyolefin formed from the reactor through an outlet for polyolefin; withdrawing fluids from the reactor through an outlet for fluids and transporting the fluids through first connection means, an heat exchanger to cool the fluids to produce a cooled recycle stream, and through second connection means back into the reactor via an inlet for the recycle stream; wherein a thermal run away reducing agent (TRRA) is added to the reactor in a discontinuous way.