The invention relates to equalizing and distributing reactants more evenly across the interior space of a reactor vessel utilizing a combination equalizer and distributor at the inlet end that initially impedes with uneven flow rates of vapor and then directs the flow of vapor through a series of circumferential nozzles. The nozzles are physical spaced such that the first nozzle provides the reactants into the vessel to spread radially and broadly outwardly into the vessel and each successive circumferential nozzle to deliver reactants in a less broadly distribution or dispersion where the interior space is filled with reactants without broadly diverse velocities that may create hot spots within the catalyst bed.

A fuel synthesis catalyst of an embodiment for hydrogenating a gas includes at least one selected from the group consisting of; carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, the catalyst comprising, a base material containing at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of; Al.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, TiO.sub.2, and SiO.sub.2, first metals containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of; Ni, Co, Fe, and Cu and brought into contact with the base material, and a first oxide containing at least one selected from the group consisting of; CeO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, and SiO.sub.2 and having an interface with each of the first metals and the base material. The first metals exist on an outer surface of the base material, and on a surface of the base material in fine pores having opening ends on the outer surface of the base material and inside the base material. The first metals and the first oxide exist in the fine pores. The first metals have interfaces with the base material in the fine pores. The first metals exist inside the base material.

The invention concerns particles which may include a catalytically active component, in the form of a three-dimensional ellipsoidal shape having three major axes at least two of which axes are of different lengths. Beds of such particles are useful for forming particle beds through which a fluid may flow.

A fixed bed (10) is provided for a fixed-bed reactor (100). The fixed bed (10) contains a particulate carrier and at least one reactive substance. The carrier is a silicate compound and the reactive substance is an organometallic pyridine compound. A method for preparing such a fixed bed is provided. The method includes the steps of preparing the carrier, preparing an impregnation and treating the carrier with the impregnation. In addition, a gas-measuring tube is provided with a correspondingly prepared fixed bed as well. A method uses organometallic pyridinium compounds, especially pyridinium dichromate, in a fixed-bed reactor for detecting alcohol compounds and for preparing formaldehyde and/or acetaldehyde.

The present invention provides a process of producing hydrogen comprising introducing methane and/or other light hydrocarbons into a reaction chamber and reacting said gases in said reaction chamber in a bed of solid carbonaceous materials to give hydrogen, wherein said carbonaceous materials are macro-structured carbonaceous materials, wherein the porosity of the carbonaceous material is in the range of 30 to 70 vol.-% and the carbonaceous material contains a content of carbon of 99 wt.-% to 100 wt.-% and a content of alkaline-earth metals, transition metals and metalloids of 0 and 1 wt.-% in relation to the total mass of the solid carbonaceous material, wherein the iron content is between 0 and 0.5 wt.-%, the magnesium content is between 0 and 0.005 wt.-%, the manganese content is between 0 and 0.01 wt.-%, the silicon content is between 0 and 0.01 wt.-% and the nickel content is between 0 and 0.025 wt.-%. In addition, the present invention provides the use of said carbonaceous materials as carrier material in bed reactors.

A method of manufacturing synthesis gas by catalytic partial oxidation can prevent formation of hot spots from taking place when driving mixture gas to pass through a catalyst-filled layer at high velocity. The method comprises converting mixture gas of source gas containing lower hydrocarbons and oxidative gas containing oxygen into synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide as main components thereof by causing mixture gas to flow through a fixed bed catalyst layer arranged in a reactor. The method of manufacturing synthesis gas by catalytic partial oxidation is conducted such that the mixture gas is made to flow to the catalyst layer under the condition that the Reynolds number does not exceed 20 at the inlet of the catalyst layer.

The invention relates to equalizing and distributing vapor more evenly across the interior space of a reactor vessel utilizing an equalizing section and distributor section at the inlet end and a fixed valve tray at the bottom of the reactor to equalize and distribute the flow.

A fixed bed (10) is provided for a fixed-bed reactor (100). The fixed bed (10) contains a particulate carrier and at least one reactive substance. The carrier is a silicate compound and the reactive substance is an organometallic pyridine compound. A method for preparing such a fixed bed is provided. The method includes the steps of preparing the carrier, preparing an impregnation and treating the carrier with the impregnation. In addition, a gas-measuring tube is provided with a correspondingly prepared fixed bed as well. A method uses organometallic pyridinium compounds, especially pyridinium dichromate, in a fixed-bed reactor for detecting alcohol compounds and for preparing formaldehyde and/or acetaldehyde.

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.

In a process for carrying out a chemical reaction gaseous reactants are supplied to a first reaction zone including a first catalyst having a first particle equivalent diameter. The first reaction zone is operated such that when the reactants are contacted with the first catalyst a portion of the reactants is converted to the desired product. An intermediate stream of unreacted reactants and the desired product is removed and passed to a second reaction zone including a tubular reactor. Tubes of the reactor are catalyst carriers containing a second catalyst having a second particle equivalent diameter smaller than the first particle equivalent diameter. The second reaction zone is operated such that when the unreacted reactants are contacted with the second catalyst, at least some of the unreacted reactants are converted to the desired product. A product stream is then recovered. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also described.