A method and device for producing polyphosphoric acid burns a fuel in combustion air in a combustion chamber, sprays a spray fluid comprising substantially pure orthophosphoric acid and undertakes polymerization-condensation of the pure orthophosphoric acid. A polyphosphoric acid in the form of an acid mist accompanied by formation of gases which mix with combustion gases resulting from burning of the fuel is formed to reach a predetermined temperature, wherein the mixture causes sudden lowering of combustion gas temperature. The acid mix is separated from the gas mixture and the polyphosphoric acid is collected at a bottom of the combustion chamber and the gas mixture is outputted via a lower part of the combustion chamber separate from the collection of polyphosphoric acid.

The invention relates to a plant for production of hydrogen, and to a method for operating this plant, comprising a steam reforming reactor having a furnace, in which reactor water and at least one carbonaceous energy carrier are reacted to form a hydrogen-containing crude synthesis gas, and at least one cleaning device for purifying the crude synthesis gas, to which the crude synthesis gas is fed from the steam reforming via at least one feed line. According to the invention, upstream of one of the at least one cleaning devices at least one return line branches off from the feed line, through which the crude synthesis gas is at least in part recirculated into the furnace of the steam reforming reactor.

A method of generating a reaction product from a feedstock via a centrifuge reactor that includes introducing a flow of feedstock to a centrifuge reactor, the centrifuge reactor including: a central rotational axis X, and a centrifuge assembly having a reaction chamber with the centrifuge assembly configured to rotate about the central rotational axis X. The method further includes rotating the centrifuge assembly about the central rotational axis X at a tip speed to generate an acceleration gradient from the central rotational axis X and from a first reaction chamber end to a second reaction chamber end and generating reaction conditions in the reaction chamber, the reaction conditions and acceleration gradient causing a separation of products from a reaction of the feedstock within the reaction chamber.

An apparatus (10) for preparation of acetylene and synthesis gas by partial oxidation of hydrocarbons with oxygen is proposed, comprising a reactor (12). The reactor (12) has a burner block (14) with a firing space for acetylene preparation, a secondary space (18) formed within the burner block (14), and an annular space (20) surrounding the secondary space (18). The burner block (14) has holes (22) for supply of a stream of a mixture of hydrocarbons and oxygen to the firing space and holes (24) for supply of a stream of auxiliary oxygen to the firing space. The holes (24) for supply of a stream of auxiliary oxygen to the firing space are connected to the secondary space (18). The secondary space (18) is connected to the annular space (20). There is a further proposal of a process for preparing acetylene and synthesis gas by partial oxidation of hydrocarbons with oxygen.

A radiant, non-catalytic recuperative reformer has a flue gas flow path for conducting hot exhaust gas from a thermal process and a reforming mixture flow path for conducting a reforming mixture. At least a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is positioned adjacent to the flue gas flow path to permit heat transfer from the hot exhaust gas to the reforming mixture. The reforming mixture flow path contains substantially no material commonly used as a catalyst for reforming hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., nickel oxide, platinum group elements or rhenium), but instead the reforming mixture is reformed into a higher calorific fuel via reactions due to the heat transfer and residence time. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is positioned outside of flue gas flow path for a relatively large residence time.

Integrated liquid fuel catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reformer and fuel cell systems can include a plurality or an array of spaced-apart CPOX reactor units, each reactor unit including an elongated tube having a gas-permeable wall with internal and external surfaces. The wall encloses an unobstructed gaseous flow passageway. At least a portion of the wall has CPOX catalyst disposed therein and/or comprising its structure. The catalyst-containing wall structure and open gaseous flow passageway enclosed thereby define a gaseous phase CPOX reaction zone, the catalyst-containing wall section being gas-permeable to allow gaseous CPOX reaction mixture to diffuse therein and hydrogen rich product reformate to diffuse therefrom. The liquid fuel CPOX reformer also can include a vaporizer, one or more igniters, and a source of liquid reformable fuel. The hydrogen-rich reformate can be converted to electricity within a fuel cell unit integrated with the CPOX reactor unit.

Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

An endothermic catalytic reactor apparatus that includes a radiant furnace that includes a burner adapted to provide thermal energy to the furnace, a reactor that includes an entrance portion and an exit portion and is situated within the furnace and adapted to receive radiant thermal energy. The reactor includes one or more static helical spirals defining a flow path within the reactor that travels from the entrance portion to the exit portion. The helical spirals are adapted to hold a catalyst on an outer surface thereof. Incoming port(s) are located on the entrance portion and are adapted to receive reactive starting materials. An exit port is located near the exit portion and is adapted to expel product from the reactor. The reactor is adapted to allow starting materials to receive radiant thermal energy and interact with catalyst sufficiently to cause a reaction to occur that converts starting materials to product.

A method is described for controlling a furnace containing a plurality of catalyst-containing tubes heated by a combustion gas generated by a plurality of burners, said method comprising the steps of: (i) measuring path-averaged combustion gas temperatures on multiple paths through the furnace using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy, (ii) periodically measuring temperatures of surfaces within the furnace to obtain periodic surface temperature information, (iii) entering the path-averaged combustion gas temperatures and periodic surface temperature information into a computer model of the furnace, said model comprising parameters for controlling the furnace; and (iv) using the computer model and the temperature information to obtain optimised parameters for controlling the furnace. A system for performing the method is also described.