A method and assembly for utilizing open-cell cellular solid material in a component separation unit to separate one or more process streams into component process streams having desired compositions. A method and assembly for using said open-cell cellular solid material to separate process streams into desired component process streams in a component separation unit, wherein the open-cell cellular solid material can include oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, ceramics, metals, polymers, and chemical vapor deposition materials.

A method for facilitating the distribution of the flow of one or more streams within a bed vessel is provided. Disposed within the bed vessel are internal materials and structures including multiple operating zones. One type of operating zone can be a processing zone composed of one or more beds of solid processing material. Another type of operating zone can be a treating zone. Treating zones can facilitate the distribution of the one or more streams fed to processing zones. The distribution can facilitate contact between the feed streams and the processing materials contained in the processing zones.

A generally spherical high strength ceramic body for use in an ATR and/or SR unit covering a catalyst media bed. The ceramic body is a fully stabilized YSZ composite composition having at least about 13% yttria YSZ, and more typically from about 12% to about 20% yttria YSZ, with a porosity of less than 20 percent and a diameter of at least 25 mm and, more typically, selected from the group comprising 25 mm, 50 mm, 76 mm and 100 mm.

A wetted-wire liquid-gas contactor device is disclosed comprising a plurality of wires, a first support structure configured to retain the plurality of wires, and a liquid distribution system for receiving and distributing a liquid to the plurality of wires. The diameter of the plurality of wires is approximately 2 mm or less, wherein a pitch of the plurality of wires is less than 4.0 mm.

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 facilitating the distribution of the flow of one or more streams within a bed vessel is provided. Disposed within the bed vessel are internal materials and structures including multiple operating zones. One type of operating zone can be a processing zone composed of one or more beds of solid processing material. Another type of operating zone can be a treating zone. Treating zones can facilitate the distribution of the one or more streams fed to processing zones. The distribution can facilitate contact between the feed streams and the processing materials contained in the processing zones.

A corrosion resistant refractory ceramic hexagonal target tile body for use covering a catalyst, including a generally flat hexagonal portion and a plurality of generally right circular cylindrical aperture portions extending therethrough, wherein the hexagonal tile body has a thickness of about 89 mm and a width of about 42 cm and is 13 percent yttria fully stabilized YSZ. Each respective aperture has a diameter of about 19 mm.

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.

A catalyst carrier may have a cross-sectional shape that may include a plurality of surface channels having a first channel width and a second channel width, where the first channel width may be closer to a periphery of the cross-sectional shape than the second channel width and the first channel width may be less than the second channel width. The cross-sectional shape may further include a plurality of surface features where at least one surface feature is located between at least one pair of surface channels. The cross-sectional shape may further include a ratio L.sub.OC/L.sub.SCP of at least about 1.7, where L.sub.OC is a length of a total contour of the cross-sectional shape and L.sub.SCP is a length of an outer simple convex perimeter of the cross-sectional shape.

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.