A radial flow distribution system, a radial flow reactor, and components thereof, including one or more of a scallop, center pipe, and/or outer basket. Each of the scallop, the center pipe, and the outer basket has openings formed therein. wherein the sizes or the shapes of the openings vary along the length or the width of the reactor components such that the openings define a pattern in configured to manipulate and optimize the distribution of flow of feedstock out of the components and through the reactor to maximize the efficiency of the catalyst reaction thereof.

Device for mixing and distributing fluids for a downflow catalytic reactor, comprising: a collecting zone (A) comprising a collecting means (5); a substantially vertical collecting pipe and at least one injection means (8) opening into said collecting pipe; a mixing zone (B) comprising a fluid mixing chamber (15) of length L1, said mixing zone (15) comprising a first end in communication with said collecting pipe and a second end in communication with a fluid exchange chamber (16) of length L2, situated beneath said mixing chamber (15), the length L2 of said exchange chamber (16) being strictly greater than the length L1 of said mixing chamber (15); a distribution zone (C), situated beneath the mixing zone (B), comprising a distribution plate (12) that carries a plurality of chimneys (13), and a plurality of horizontal panels (33), situated above or on the chimneys (13).

A scallop, center pipe, and outer basket for use in a radial flow reactor are provided. Each of the scallop, the center pipe, and the outer basket is formed of an elongated conduit having a top end and an opposing bottom end, and a plurality of openings formed in the elongated conduit through a thickness thereof. A diameter of the plurality of openings progressively increases or decreases from the top end to the opposing bottom end of the elongated conduit so as to allow a feedstock to flow radially out through the plurality of openings on the scallop or outer basket, or to allow a feedstock to flow uniformly into the center pipe through the plurality of openings. A system utilizing the center pipe together with either the scallop or the outer basket is also provided.

An apparatus is provided for directing a fluid in a radial reactor comprising: a vertically elongated conduit comprising a front face comprising a surface comprising apertures, two side faces, and a rear face and two ends, wherein an end of the front face and an end of the rear face are a distance D1 apart and wherein a second opposite end of the front face and a second corresponding end of the rear face are a distance D2 apart wherein D1 is greater than D2 and wherein a riser are connected to a top surface of said vertically elongated conduit to allow a gas stream to flow through the riser to the vertically elongated conduit.

A hybrid vertical plug flow reactor is comprised of a bottom inlet and a top outlet having vertical tubular member disposed there between, wherein the bottom inlet has separate gas reactant inlet and separate liquid reactant inlet whereby the gas reactant is mixed with the liquid reactant and the outlet has an extraction port, the extraction port extending sufficiently to withdraw the liquid product from the reactor and maintain a gaseous head space within the tubular member of the reactor. The hybrid vertical bubble plug flow reactor is useful to react a gas reactant and liquid reactant that are reacted at a molar ratio of gas reactant/liquid reactant that is in excess of a stoichiometric requirement of gas reactant so that the gas reactant forms bubbles and the reactants react in the presence of a catalyst to form a reaction product.

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for the oxidative coupling of methane to generate hydrocarbon compounds containing at least two carbon atoms (C.sub.2+ compounds). The method can include mixing a first gas stream comprising methane with a second gas stream comprising oxygen to form a third gas stream comprising methane and oxygen and performing an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction using the third gas stream to produce a product stream comprising one or more C.sub.2+ compounds.

A contacting device and method are presented for the collection, contacting, and distribution of fluids between particulate beds of a downflow vessel, which may operate in co-current flow. By one approach, the contacting device includes a liquid collection tray, a mixing channel in fluid communication with the liquid collection tray, and a liquid distribution zone.

The inventions is directed to a new design for catalyst tubes, which makes it possible to apply the concept of regenerative reforming into steam reformers having catalyst tube inlets and outlets at opposite sides of the furnace chamber. The catalyst tube comprises an inlet for process gas to enter the catalyst tube and an outlet for process gas to exit the catalyst tube, which inlet and outlet are located at opposite ends of the catalyst tube. The catalyst tube further comprises a first annular channel comprising the catalyst, a second annular channel for process gas to flow countercurrently or co-currently to the process gas flowing through the first annular channel.

The invention involves a scale collection device that is located within downflow reactor head for removing solids from feed streams to increase reactor operating cycle time without impact on effective reactor space for catalyst loading and reactor pressure drop. More particularly, a scale collection device is in an upper portion of a reactor vessel above a rough liquid distribution tray and a vapor-liquid distribution tray.

The present disclosure relates to a single shell open interstage reactor (SSOI). The SSOI comprises a first reaction stage, an interstage heat exchanger, an open interstage region, and a second reaction stage. The SSOI may be configured for upflow or downflow operation. Further, the open interstage region of the SSOI may comprise a supplemental oxidant feed. When the open interstage region comprises a supplemental oxidant feed, the SSOI may further comprise a supplemental oxidant mixing assembly. Processes for producing acrylic acid through the oxidation of propylene are also disclosed.