Apparatus for converting feed gas (28) into a product gas (29), comprising at least one reactor (1) with a reaction chamber (15) bounded by the inner wall of an outer tube (4) closed at a first outer end and an inner tube (14) received coaxially in this outer tube (4) and provided at both its outer ends with openings, which reactor (1) is provided with an inlet chamber (11) and with an outlet chamber (10), wherein a first wall (31) of the outlet chamber (10) encloses the outer tube (4) and extends therefrom, and a second wall (12) of the outlet chamber (10) lying opposite the first wall (31) encloses the outer tube (4) and extends therefrom, and the inlet chamber (11) is bounded by the second wall (12) of the outlet chamber (10) and a third wall (47) which lies opposite this second wall (12), encloses the outer tube (4) and extends therefrom.

A method of fabricating a catalytic reactor assembly having an outer tube and an inner tube is provided. The method may include inserting a catalyst into the outer tube and inserting the inner tube through the catalyst. The method may further include radially expanding the inner tube against the catalyst.

A packing structure obtained by assembling packing elements having a spiral helix shape, and the use of a structured packing composed of packing structure for an operation for bringing a gas into contact with a catalyst, and a process for manufacturing such a structured packing.

A high capacity and high efficiency co-current and cross-flow vapor-liquid contacting apparatus and process is useful in distillation columns and other vapor-liquid contacting processes. The apparatus is characterized by an arrangement of offset contacting modules in horizontal stages. The modules define a co-current contacting volume and in an exemplary configuration the modules include a liquid distributor and a demister. Half modules comprise downcomers against the shell of the vessel for transporting liquid to the subjacent stage.

A high capacity and high efficiency vapor-liquid contacting apparatus and process is useful in distillation columns and other vapor-liquid contacting processes. The apparatus is characterized by a half module comprising a downcomer against a shell of a vessel for transporting liquid to a subjacent stage which utilizes a demister to effect vapor-liquid separation at the downcomer outlet.

The invention relates to a packing layer (1) for structured packing (20), the packing layer (1) having a plurality of structural elements (2), and the structural elements (2) being shaped and arranged in such a manner that they form a first fine structure (3), and adjacent structural elements (2) having a first spacing (a), the packing layer (1) having a plurality of protrusions (4) that are shaped and arranged in such a manner that they form a second fine structure (5), and adjacent protrusions (4) having a second spacing (b). According to the invention, the structural elements (2) and the protrusions (4) are formed without perforations.

The packing has one or more thin-layer packing elements that are installed upright, the packing element having a main body portion with a planar liquid film formation surface, and one or more wall portions that are provided upright relative to the liquid film formation surface along a linear direction. The side surface of each wall portion has a curved portion at the base thereof connected to the liquid film formation surface, the curved portion curbing so as to continue into the liquid film formation surface.

The contacting device for countercurrent contacting of fluid streams and having a first pair of intersecting grids of spaced-apart and parallel deflector blades and a second pair of intersecting grids of spaced-apart and parallel deflector blades. The deflector blades in each one of the grids are interleaved with the deflector blades in the paired intersecting grid and may have uncut side portions that join them together along a transverse strip where the deflector blades cross each other and cut side portions that extend from the uncut side portions to the ends of the deflector blades. At least some of the deflector blades have directional tabs and associated openings to allow portions of the fluid streams to pass through the deflector blades to facilitate mixing of the fluid streams.

A method of manufacturing packing includes: determining types of a gas and a liquid which are brought into gas-liquid contact and a main plate to be used; calculating a relationship between a contact angle and a liquid film length ratio; determining the arrangement (intervals) of a rib; determining rib conditions; calculating the minimum value of the flow direction length of the rib satisfying the contact angle and a strength requirement; confirming whether or not a liquid film length is greater than the minimum value; and determining the flow direction length of the rib within a range from the minimum value to the liquid film length.

An apparatus for steam reforming of hydrocarbons is described including a steam reformer containing a plurality of externally-heated vertical tubes each tube having an inlet for a feed gas mixture including hydrocarbon and steam, and an outlet for a reformed gas mixture, wherein the tubes contain a particulate steam reforming catalyst adjacent the outlet and a structured steam reforming catalyst adjacent the inlet. A process for steam reforming of hydrocarbons using the apparatus is also described.