A method may load granules into reaction tubes of a vertical multitube reactor installed vertically by dropping the granules from above each of the reaction tubes whereby a linear member is inserted and suspended in the reaction tube. The reaction tube has an effective length of ?1000 mm. The linear member includes a small-diameter portion positioned on an upper side and large-diameter portion continuously extending from the small-diameter portion. The small-diameter portion has an outer diameter (Ra) of ?5.0 mm, and the large-diameter portion has an outer diameter (Rb) of 5.0 to 15.0 mm larger than Ra. A length of the small-diameter portion from reaction tube's upper end is 10.0 mm or more. A distance between an upper surface of a granule loaded layer formed inside the reaction tube and a lower end of the linear member inserted in the reaction tube is ?100 mm.

Processes for dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon feedstock are described. The process can be run at lower H.sub.2/HC ratios and lower RITs while maintaining coke production at the same level as operation at higher H.sub.2/HC ratios and higher RITs without decreasing the yield per pass. Acceptable levels of coke were achieved when operating the process at low hydrogen to hydrocarbon molar ratio in the range of 0.01 to 0.40 and reactor inlet temperatures in the range of 500?-645? C.

Processes for dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon feedstock are described. The process can be run at lower H.sub.2/HC ratios and lower RITs while maintaining coke production at the same level as operation at higher H.sub.2/HC ratios and higher RITs without decreasing the yield per pass. Acceptable levels of coke were achieved when operating the process at low hydrogen to hydrocarbon molar ratio in the range of 0.01 to 0.40 and reactor inlet temperatures in the range of 500?-645? C. The process uses a low coke catalyst.

Large pill dehydrogenation catalysts and large screens slot width are combined in dehydrogenation units to reduce the pressure drop across the catalyst bed and reactor screens compared to conventional screen and catalyst size combinations. The catalyst has an average pill diameter in the range of 1.6 mm to 3.0 mm, and the slot width of the screen is in the range of about 30% to about 60% of the pill diameter.

A packing member for use in a packed bed, preferably a support for use as a catalyst support in a packed bed reactor. The packing member includes ceramic material and has a geometric surface area per volume of ?0.7 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?250 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ?1.5 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?150 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ?3 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?60 kgf. The packing member optionally has a porosity of at least 6%, such as at least 15% or at least 20%.

Processes, systems, and catalysts for the conversion of 2-butene to 1,3-butaidene without the use of steam or, in some embodiments, with a reduced use of steam as compared to prior art processes are provided. The catalyst includes tungsten trioxide (WO.sub.3) on an inorganic support includes activated magnesium oxide (MgO) and may be referred to as a dual catalyst or a co-catalyst. Embodiments of the catalyst. A process for the production of 1,3-butadiene may include contacting a feed stream of 2-butene with a WO.sub.3-inorganic support catalyst or a MgO and WO.sub.3-inorganic support catalyst and may be performed without steam in the feed stream.

Some embodiments relate to an apparatus for holding a workpiece under tension while one or more operations are performed on the workpiece, the apparatus comprising: a frame; a first spindle rotatably coupled to the frame; a first coupler configured to couple the first spindle to a first end of the workpiece; a second spindle rotatably coupled to the frame; and a second coupler configured to couple the second spindle to a second end of the workpiece; wherein a distance between the first and second couplers is adjustable to hold the workpiece under tension between the couplers while the one or more operations are performed, and wherein the workpiece can be rotated with the couplers relative to the frame about a common axis of rotation extending between the couplers. Some embodiments relate to a system comprising a controller for controlling rotation of the workpiece. Embodiments also relate to processes comprising holding a workpiece under tension while performing one or more operations on the workpiece. Some of the processes, systems and apparatuses described may be particularly useful for cold spraying delicate workpieces such as 3D printed static mixers.

A reactor includes a vessel, a gas inlet, a solid outlet, a catalyst support configured to at least partially retain a catalyst material and allow a tail gas to pass therethrough, and a tail gas outlet. The gas inlet is in fluid communication with the solid outlet. A system for producing a solid product includes a reactor, a compressor, a heater, a make-up reactive gas inlet, and a solids discharge means for removing the solid product from the solid outlet of the reactor. Methods of forming solid products include providing a catalyst material in a vessel having a porous catalyst support, delivering a reactive gas to the vessel, reacting the reactive gas to form a solid product and a tail gas in the vessel, passing the tail gas through a portion of the catalyst material to separate the solid product from the tail gas, and removing the solid product.

A reactor includes a separation membrane, a non-permeation side flow path and a catalyst. The separation membrane is permeable to a product of a conversion reaction in which a raw material gas containing at least hydrogen and carbon oxide is converted to a liquid fuel. The non-permeation side flow path is provided on a non-permeation side of the separation membrane, the raw material gas flowing through the non-permeation side flow path. The catalyst is provided in the non-permeation side flow path and configured to promote the conversion reaction. The catalyst includes catalyst particles each constituted by a carrier and a supported catalytic component, and filler particles softer than the catalyst particles.

There is described a packing member for use in a packed bed, preferably a support for use as a catalyst support in a packed bed reactor. The packing member comprises ceramic material and has a geometric surface area per volume of ?0.7 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?250 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ?1.5 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?150 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ?3 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ?60 kgf. The packing member optionally has a porosity of at least 6%, such as at least 15% or at least 20%.