The invention describes a method for the manufacture of a plasticized polyvinyl alcohol polymer mixture, the method including the steps of introducing a polyvinyl alcohol polymer with a degree of hydrolysis of at least 98 wt % or a blend of the polyvinyl alcohol polymer into a mixing reactor; reacting a reaction mixture comprising a processing agent, plasticizer and polyvinyl alcohol polymer in a reaction zone to form plasticized polyvinyl alcohol polymer; wherein the processing agent is water, or a mixture of water and one or more C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alcohols or other hydroxyl compounds wherein the boiling point of the processing agent is less than the boiling point of the plasticizer; wherein the processing agent is from 3 wt % to 18 wt % in the reaction mixture; and allowing the plasticized polyvinyl alcohol polymer mixture to pass from the mixing reactor.

A system for reactivating a catalyst having a predetermined heat content includes a reactor, a regenerator, and an electrically energized heater. The reactor is configured to generate a spent catalyst. The regenerator is configured to receive the spent catalyst from the reactor. The electrically energized heater has a plurality of energy emitting members at least partially immersed in the spent catalyst. The heater is configured to provide a supplemental heat content to obtain the predetermined heat content.

Processes and apparatuses for heating a hydrocarbon process stream, with an electrical heater to provide a portion of the heat requirement necessary for a chemical reaction to occur to one of the components of the hydrocarbon process stream. The electric heater may be in series or in parallel with a second, or main heater. The electric heater may be used between two reaction zones or between a feed exchange heater and a first reaction zone. The electric heater preferably provides between 5 to 40% of the heating requirement for the process stream.

An apparatus for hydrocarbon conversion, the apparatus including a reactor and a reactor insert secured and disposed within an interior cavity of the reactor, is described. The reactor is configured to permit addition of a feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon at an upstream end of the reactor and to permit discharge of a product stream at a downstream end of the reactor. The reactor insert is configured to provide heat to the interior cavity to promote conversion of hydrocarbons as the feed stream moves from the upstream end of the reactor to the downstream end of the reactor. The products of the conversion reaction are discharged at the downstream end as part of the product stream. A method for hydrocarbon conversion using the apparatus is also described.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for processing ammonia. The system may comprise one or more reactor modules configured to generate hydrogen from a source material comprising ammonia. The hydrogen generated by the one or more reactor modules may be used to provide additional heating of the reactor modules (e.g., via combustion of the hydrogen), or may be provided to one or more fuel cells for the generation of electrical energy.

A reactor for preparing granular polysilicon by deposition of polycrystalline silicon on silicon seed particles has a reaction vessel, an inner reactor tube for a fluidized bed comprising granular polysilicon and a reactor bottom within the reactor vessel, a heating device for heating the fluidized bed in the inner reactor tube, at least one bottom gas nozzle for introduction of fluidizing gas and at least one reaction gas nozzle for introduction of reaction gas, a feed device to introduce silicon seed particles, an offtake line for granular polysilicon, and a device for discharging reactor offgas from the reactor vessel, and has a cylindrical component which has openings on its cylindrical surface, with at least 5% and not more than 95% of the cylindrical surface being open located between the inner reactor tube and the heating device.

An apparatus for producing pulverulent poly(meth)acrylate in a reactor for droplet polymerization having an apparatus for dropletization of a monomer solution for the production of the poly(meth)acrylate having holes through which the monomer solution is introduced, an addition point for a gas above the apparatus for dropletization, at least one gas withdrawal point on the circumference of the reactor and a fluidized bed, and above the gas withdrawal point the reactor has a region having a constant hydraulic internal diameter and below the gas withdrawal point the reactor has a hydraulic internal diameter that steadily decreases. The reactor has a heating means in the region having a steadily decreasing hydraulic internal diameter.

The disclosure relates to a process to perform an endothermic methane pyrolysis reaction, said process comprising the steps of providing at least one fluidized bed reactor comprising at least two electrodes; and a bed comprising particles, wherein the particles are put in a fluidized state by passing upwardly through the said bed a fluid stream, to obtain a fluidized bed; heating the fluidized bed to a temperature ranging from 500? C. to 1200? C. to conduct the endothermic methane pyrolysis reaction; wherein the particles of the bed comprise electrically conductive particles and particles of a catalytic composition; wherein at least 10 wt. % of the particles are electrically conductive particles and have a resistivity ranging from 0.001 Ohm.Math.cm to 500 Ohm.Math.cm at 800? C. and wherein the step of heating the fluidized bed is performed by passing an electric current through the fluidized bed.

The present disclosure is directed to steam reformers for the production of a hydrogen rich reformate, comprising a shell having a first end, a second end, and a passage extending generally between the first end and the second end of the shell, and at least one heat source disposed about the second end of the shell. The shell comprises at least one conduit member comprising at least one thermally emissive and high radiant emissivity material, at least partially disposed within the shell cavity. The shell further comprises at least one reactor module at least a portion of which is disposed within the shell cavity and about the at least one conduit member and comprises at least one reforming catalyst. The disclosure is also directed to methods of producing a hydrogen reformate utilizing the steam reformers, comprising the steps of combusting a combustible mixture in a burner to produce a combustion exhaust that interacts with the steam reactor module(s) through surface to surface radiation and convection heat transfer, and reforming a hydrocarbon fuel mixed with steam in the steam reformers to produce a hydrogen-containing reformate. The present disclosure is further directed to reactor modules for use with the above steam reformers and methods of producing a hydrogen reformate.

A method of generating a desired gas is provided. The method includes introducing a matrix comprising media containing a parent compound and an inert media into an effusion tube comprising a first zone and a second zone. The first zone includes a micro-porous metal tube, and a closed end. The second zone includes a non-porous metal tube, and an open end. Heating the effusion tube, produces a desired gas.