A system and method for producing hydrogen from hydrocarbon and steam, including a membrane reformer with multiple membrane reactors each having a tubular membrane. The bore of the tubular membrane is the permeate side for the hydrogen. The region external to the tubular membrane is the retentate side for carbon dioxide. A sweep gas flows through the bore to displace hydrogen in a direction countercurrent to flow of hydrocarbon and steam in the region external to the tubular membrane. The method includes discharging hydrogen as permeate with the sweep gas from the bore, and discharging carbon dioxide in the region external to the tubular membrane as retentate from the membrane reactor.

Systems and processes for dehydrogenating one or more alkanes using electrically heated dehydrogenation reactors. The source of electric energy or power can be a power grid, solar panel, windmill, hydropower, nuclear power, fuel cell, gas turbines, steam turbines, portable generator or the like. The systems and processes provided herein result in a simpler dehydrogenation process which is particularly beneficial at a small scale and at remote locations, including the well site.

The invention relates to a chemical plant comprising a reforming section arranged to receive a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons and provide a synthesis gas, wherein the reforming section comprises: an electrically heated reforming reactor housing a first catalyst, said electrically heated reforming reactor being arranged for receiving said feed gas and generating a first synthesis gas; and an autothermal reforming reactor downstream said electrically heated reforming reactor, said autothermal reforming reactor housing a second catalyst, said autothermal reforming reactor being arranged for receiving said first synthesis gas and outputting a second synthesis gas, wherein said reforming section is arranged to output said output synthesis gas comprising said second synthesis gas. The invention also relates to a process for producing a chemical product from a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons, in a chemical plant according to the invention.

Methods of generating performic acid by contacting aqueous oxidizing agent and aqueous formic acid source in liquid phase are disclosed. A system and apparatus for the in situ production of the performic acid chemistries is further disclosed. In particular, a continuous flow reactor is provided to generate performic acid at variable rates. Methods of employing the oxidizing biocide for various disinfection applications are also disclosed.

A continuous flow process and system for depolymerizing plastic. A heterogeneous mixture of solid plastic particles, a solvent, and a catalyst are pumped continuously through a heating zone at a flow rate resulting in a particle speed sufficient to keep the plastic particles in suspension. The heterogeneous mixture is heated in the heating zone and maintained in a hold zone to complete depolymerization of the mixture into a homogeneous solution containing a liquefied reaction product. The homogeneous solution is cooled to solidify and precipitate a solid reaction product. The solid reaction product is separated from the solvent to be recycled. Contaminants are removed from the solvent, and the solvent is recirculated for use as a constituent of the heterogeneous mixture.

A methanol synthesis plant comprising: a feed pretreating section operable to pretreat a feed stream; a synthesis gas (syngas) generation section comprising one or more reactors operable to produce a syngas synthesis product stream comprising synthesis gas from the feed stream; a methanol synthesis section comprising one or more methanol synthesis reactors operable to produce a synthesis product comprising methanol; and/or a methanol purification section operable to remove at least one component from the synthesis product to provide a purified methanol product; wherein the methanol synthesis plant is configured such that, relative to a conventional methanol synthesis plant, more of the net energy required by the methanol synthesis plant, the feed pretreating section, the syngas generation section, the methanol synthesis section, the methanol purification section, or a combination thereof, is provided by a non-carbon based energy source, a renewable energy source, and/or electricity.

Methods of heating a reactor system by providing electrical energy are described. A reactor system comprising at least one reactor tube having a catalyst disposed therein and comprises at least one electrically conductive surface is heated by providing electrical energy to the at least one electrically conductive surface on the reactor tube and adjusting a current level of the electrical energy provided to the at least one electrically conductive surface to control the temperature of the reactor tube and the catalyst disposed therein. The reactor tube may be electrically isolated from other electrically conductive components of the reactor system.

High quality, catalyst-free boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) that are long, flexible, have few wall molecules and few defects in the crystalline structure, can be efficiently produced by a process driven primarily by Direct Induction. Secondary Direct Induction coils, Direct Current heaters, lasers, and electric arcs can provide additional heating to tailor the processes and enhance the quality of the BNNTs while reducing impurities. Heating the initial boron feed stock to temperatures causing it to act as an electrical conductor can be achieved by including refractory metals in the initial boron feed stock, and providing additional heat via lasers or electric arcs. Direct Induction processes may be energy efficient and sustainable for indefinite period of time. Careful heat and gas flow profile management may be used to enhance production of high quality BNNT at significant production rates.

The present invention relates to an electric heating device (3) in an exhaust gas system (1), having an outer circumferential, in particular circular, housing (4), wherein a rib structure is arranged in the housing (4), which rib structure can be heated by applying an electric current to it. The rib structure is arranged with rib rows (7) parallel to one another in the housing (4), wherein the parallel-arranged rib rows (7) are arranged such that are electrically connected to one another in series or in parallel.

An electric chemical discharge reactor and associated systems include various physical arrangements of components that improve mounting configurations and densities, increase separation between electrical and coolant components, and/or shorten high frequency leads. In some cases a discharge reactor includes a power converter, a transformer, and a discharge reaction cell. An arrangement of the electrical components with respect to the reaction cell reduces the likelihood of liquid coolants reaching the electrical components. Components can be mounted to a common frame allowing for easy mounting and removal of the components at the same time. Fluid connection lines can include identically angled ends to further facilitate mounting and removal of the reactor.