A reactor apparatus for dehydrogenating a carrier medium includes a reactor housing, an interior space which is enclosed by the reactor housing and includes a preliminary space, which has an inflow opening for inflow of loaded carrier medium into the preliminary space and at least one first connecting opening for outflow of the carrier medium from the preliminary space, and includes a reaction space connected via the at least one first connecting opening to the preliminary space. The reactor apparatus additionally has a heat transfer space which is arranged between the reactor housing and the reaction space and contains a heat transfer medium for transfer of heat from the heat transfer medium to the carrier medium.

In the thermochemical water splitting process by CuCl cycle, oxygen gas is produced by a thermolysis process in a three-phase reactor. IN accordance with the teachings herein, a technique is provided to achieve the high challenging thermal requirements of the thermolysis reactor, whereby an optimized heat transfer configuration is used. The technique involves using some of the pre-heated stoichiometric oxygen gas produced from the thermolysis reaction, to transfer heat directly to the slurry of molten CuCl and solid Cu.sub.2OCl.sub.2 inside the thermolysis reactor. Experiments were performed to examine the volumetric heat transfer coefficient for the direct contact heat transfer between the gas and the slurry. It was found that the thermal scale up analysis of the thermolysis reactor with direct contact heat transfer, is based on the amount of heat carried by the oxygen gas rather than the amount of heat transferred by direct contact heat transfer.

Parallel uses of microfluidic methods and devices for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid are described. In some aspects, the present invention relates generally to flow-focusing-type technology, and also to microfluidics, and more particularly parallel use of microfluidic systems arranged to control a dispersed phase within a dispersant, and the size, and size distribution, of a dispersed phase in a multi-phase fluid system, and systems for delivery of fluid components to multiple such devices.

In an embodiment, a method of producing a carbonate comprises reacting carbon monoxide and chlorine in a phosgene reactor in the presence of a catalyst to produce a first product comprising phosgene; wherein carbon tetrachloride is present in the first product in an amount of 0 to 10 ppm by volume based on the total volume of phosgene; and reacting a monohydroxy compound with the phosgene to produce the carbonate; wherein the phosgene reactor comprises a tube, a shell, and a space located between the tube and the shell; wherein the tube comprises one or more of a mini-tube section and a second tube section; a first concentric tube concentrically located in the shell; a twisted tube; an internal scaffold; and an external scaffold.

Parallel uses of microfluidic methods and devices for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid are described. In some aspects, the present invention relates generally to flow-focusing-type technology, and also to microfluidics, and more particularly parallel use of microfluidic systems arranged to control a dispersed phase within a dispersant, and the size, and size distribution, of a dispersed phase in a multi-phase fluid system, and systems for delivery of fluid components to multiple such devices.

The invention relates to an apparatus for investigating electrocatalytic reactions comprising a container (3) having a stirrer (5), wherein the container (3) is internally lined with an electrically insulating coating or is manufactured from an electrically insulating material and the stirrer (5) has at least one stirrer shaft (17) provided with an electrically insulating coating or manufactured from an electrically insulating material and electrodes (9, 9a, 9b; 11, 11a, 11b) configured as exchangeable baskets (7; 7a; 7b) are positioned in the container (3).

In a stirred tank chemical reactor the mean age of the reactor contents affects a number of properties of the product, including for example the homogeneity of the product. The mean average age of the reactor contents can be determined by constructing a transparent model of the reactor and filling it with a fluid containing a fluorescent dye and having flow properties comparable to those of the reactor in use. A light is shone on the fluid as it is stirred under reaction conditions and a clear fluid flow into the model. Pictures are taken of the reactor contents and the mean fluid age of the contents of the model are determined relative to the exit age of the contents. This approach can be applied to determine for example which reactor ports to use, what agitator to use, what flow rates to use to improve reactor function.

An improved reactor comprising a shell and at least one reactor internal component. The reactor internal component includes a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes attached by at least one tube support plate comprising at least one radial strut and at least one bracket configured to secure to at least one tube of the tube bundle. The tubes are arranged in concentric bands about a longitudinal axis of the reactor. The reactor can also include a gas inlet plate, a catalyst support plate, and a top plate. The reactor shell can include a domed head portion with a startup nozzle connected to a reducing flange, providing a manhole access opening into the shell. Sliding strips that slide relative to the tube support plates can facilitate easier assembly, and support rings for the tubes adjacent the plates can accommodate variable thermal expansion of the tubes received in the plates.

In the thermochemical water splitting process by the CuCl cycle, oxygen gas is produced by a thermolysis process in a three-phase reactor. A precise knowledge of the hydrodynamic and heat transfer analyses is required for the scale-up of the thermolysis reactor. However, in the experimental studies of the scale up analysis, there are some challenges in using the actual materials of the thermolysis reactor products (i.e. molten salt CuCl and oxygen gas). In accordance with the teachings herein, alternative materials are defined, by using dimensional analyses, to simulate the hydrodynamic and heat transfer behaviors of the actual materials. It has been found that these alternative materials are liquid water at 222 C. and helium gas at 902 C. The alternative materials provide safe environment for the experimental runs as well as lower operating temperature. Furthermore, these alternative materials are more readily available and are low cost.

In the thermochemical water splitting process by CuCl cycle, oxygen gas is produced by a thermolysis process in a three-phase reactor. IN accordance with the teachings herein, a technique is provided to achieve the high challenging thermal requirements of the thermolysis reactor, whereby an optimized heat transfer configuration is used. The technique involves using some of the pre-heated stoichiometric oxygen gas produced from the thermolysis reaction, to transfer heat directly to the slurry of molten CuCl and solid Cu.sub.2OCl.sub.2 inside the thermolysis reactor. Experiments were performed to examine the volumetric heat transfer coefficient for the direct contact heat transfer between the gas and the slurry. It was found that the thermal scale up analysis of the thermolysis reactor with direct contact heat transfer, is based on the amount of heat carried by the oxygen gas rather than the amount of heat transferred by direct contact heat transfer.