Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for producing emulsions, and, in particular, for maintaining laminar flow during production of emulsions containing microsuspensions.

A method for removing contaminants from an process stream that includes the use of reticulated material to filter the process stream. The reticulated material also facilitate process stream flow distribution in process units. The reticulated material can be packed with a void space between a substantial number of the reticulated material that can be varied to enhance filtration and flow distribution. The method of filtering also provides a method of removing contaminants leaving process equipment. The methods can be used on a variety of process streams and process equipment. The reticulated material can include ceramics, metallic materials, and chemical vapor deposition elements. The reticulated material can be of various shapes and sizes, and can also be catalytically active.

The invention relates to a catalyst filling, comprising a first layer of a planar catalyst material and a second layer of a planar catalyst material lying over said first layer, wherein the catalyst material of the first layer comprises at least two plates, which butt against each other to form an abutment edge in each case, wherein the catalyst material of the second layer comprises at least two plates, which butt against each other to form an abutment edge in each case, and wherein the plates of the second layer are designed and/or arranged relative to the plates of the first layer in such a way that the abutment edge or abutment edges of the second layer are not aligned with the abutment edge or abutment edges of the first layer.

Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for producing emulsions, and, in particular, for maintaining laminar flow during production of emulsions containing microsuspensions. Disclosed herein are columns for receiving a packing material that permits fluid flow through the column. The columns have a periphery that defines an interior cavity in fluid communication with inlets and outlets of the column. Disclosed herein is a method of preparing an emulsion that includes (1) forming a first phase typically containing an organic solvent, a polymer, and one or more biologically active agents and/or chemicals; (2) forming a second phase typically containing water as the second solvent, an emulsion stabilizer and optionally a solvent; and (3) passing the first and the second phases through the column to form a water in oil type emulsion.

A hydrocarbon is produced by applying mechanical energy to a metal body containing stainless steel by solid-solid contact so that a contact pressure per unit area is 30 kPa or more, in the presence of a gas containing carbon dioxide and a hydrogen source, thereby adding hydrogen to carbon dioxide. Further, a hydrocarbon is produced by providing a reaction vessel for applying mechanical energy to a metal body by solid-solid contact in the presence of a gas containing carbon dioxide and a hydrogen source, a gas introduction unit for introducing the gas containing carbon dioxide to the reaction vessel, a hydrogen source introduction unit for introducing the hydrogen source to the reaction vessel, and a gas discharge unit for discharging a gas containing the hydrocarbon produced in the reaction vessel, and adding hydrogen to the carbon dioxide in the reaction vessel.

An apparatus for carrying out endothermic reactions including a plurality of catalytic vessels, immersed in a combustion chamber having a contiguous overlaid convection chamber enclosing a top portion of the catalytic vessels wherein heat is recovered at a lower temperature level from the flue gases from the combustion chamber. The catalytic vessels may contain internal and coaxial heat recovery tubes creating an annular space filled in with a catalytic device. Both the external heat recovery through the catalyst tube outer surface and the internal heat recovery through the inner tube surface can be maximized by an enhanced catalytic device acting also as a heat transfer promoter in the process gas region. The apparatus provides enhanced and flexible heat recovery that permits to meet the request of minimum or none export steam production in one single apparatus, avoiding the need of a pre-reforming section and/or of a convective reformer downstream.

A fluidized bed reactor designed for in situ gas phase impregnation. The reactor comprises a tube with an upstream zone and a downstream zone, the upstream zone and the downstream zone being separated by a separation filter. A method for a controlled-deposition of a sublimated precursor onto a fluidized solid support. The method is remarkable in that it is carried out in situ within the tube of the fluidized bed reactor in accordance with the fluidized bed reactor.

Methods and apparatuses for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream are provided. In an embodiment, a method for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream includes providing the pyrolysis oil stream and providing the hydrocarbon stream separate from the pyrolysis oil stream. The pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream are introduced into a reaction zone. Deposits form adjacent to a pyrolysis oil outlet of the pyrolysis oil stream. The pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream are catalytically cracked in the presence of a particulate cracking catalyst in the reaction zone. During catalytic cracking, the pyrolysis oil deposits adjacent the pyrolysis oil outlet of the pyrolysis oil stream are removed, such as with a cleaning head.

In a fixed-bed flow reaction using a multitubular heat exchange type reactor, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel packing for a reaction tube, which can control the reaction ratio in the vicinity of the reaction tube inlet, reduce the load unevenly placed on the catalyst in the reaction region, and distribute the load on the entire catalyst layer, a heat exchange type reactor, and a reaction method using the reaction tube. The packing for a reaction tube of the present invention is characterized in that the volume is continuously or step-by-step decreased from one end part or midway toward the other end part.

Assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and method to extract or convey a material from a source of the material may include a vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly to enhance conveyance the material from the source of the material. The vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly may include a vacuum source including a plurality of vacuum generators. Each of the plurality of vacuum generators may be positioned to cause a vacuum flow between the source of the material and the vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly. The vacuum generation and sound attenuation assembly may further include a sound attenuation chamber connected to the vacuum source. The sound attenuation chamber may include an attenuation housing at least partially defining a chamber interior volume being positioned to receive at least a portion of the vacuum flow from the vacuum source and attenuate sound generated by the vacuum source.