A two-step thermochemical reactor and method are disclosed. The reactor includes a housing and a reactor cavity formed within, and surrounded by, thermal insulation within the housing. The reactor cavity includes at least one unit cell, each cell having an electric heat source and a reactive material. The reactor also includes a feedstock inlet and a product outlet in fluid communication with the reactor cavity. The reactor also includes a reducing configuration, with the inlet being closed and the electric heat source of each unit cell being driven to thermally reduce the reactive material at a first temperature, releasing oxygen into the cavity. The reactor also has a splitting configuration where the reactive material is at a second temperature that is lower than the first, the feedstock inlet open and introducing feedstock gas into the cavity to reoxidize the reactive material and split into a product gas.

An apparatus for the production of hydrogen from a fuel source includes a combustor configured to receive a combustor fuel and convert the combustor fuel into a combustor heat; a reformer disposed annularly about the combustor, a removable structured catalyst support disposed within the gap and coated with a catalyst to induce combustor fuel combustion reactions that convert the combustor fuel to the combustor heat, and a combustor fuel injection aperture configured for mixing combustion fuel into the combustion catalyst. The combustor fuel injection aperture being disposed along a length of the combustion zone. The reformer and the combustor define a gap therebetween and the reformer is configured to receive the combustor heat.

Moulded insulation bodies, processes for the production thereof and use thereof consisting essentially of ceramic material comprising SiO.sub.2 fibers and Al.sub.2O.sub.3 fibers which has been produced using Al.sub.2O.sub.3 sol as a binder and kilned at a temperature of above 800° C. for insulation of the ends of cracking tubes of a tubular reactor for performing a steam reforming process for generating synthesis gas which project out of the reactor heating space.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for producing olefins via an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) process. The systems and methods may comprise the use of a staged process comprising at least one non-adiabatic section that is in thermal communication with a heat transfer medium and at least one substantially adiabatic section. The systems and methods may also comprise the use of a diluent stream which may improve methane conversion in an OCM reactor and an ethylene/ethane ratio in a post-bed cracking unit. The methods and systems may further comprise injecting oxygen (O.sub.2) and a paraffin into a gas stream containing a radical transfer agent to provide a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture may be held in a vessel for a time period greater than an auto-ignition delay time (AIDT), such that the reaction mixture may ignite to liberate heat and convert to a product mixture comprising olefins.

A reformer suitable for micro-scale design has horizontal catalyst tube(s) passing through a baffled radiant section for convective and radiant heat transfer to the tube(s). To reduce the footprint and/or to facilitate field assembly a combustion chamber and convection section can be oriented transversely with respect to the radiant section; the tube(s) can be horizontal and/or include structured catalyst; and/or the combustion chamber provides flameless combustion or produces a flame without impinging on the tubes. Also, a skid frame-mountable version of the reformer; and a process for transporting, assembling, and/or operating the steam methane reformer.

A heat integrated steam reformer, which incorporates a catalytic combustor, which can be used in a fuel processor for hydrogen production from a fuel source, is described. The reformer assembly comprises a reforming section and a combustion section, separated by a wall. Catalyst (21) able to induce the reforming reactions is placed in the reforming section, either in the form of pellets or in the form of coating on a suitable structured catalyst substrate such as fecralloy sheets. Catalyst (22) able to induce the combustion reactions is placed in the combustion section in the form of coating on suitable structured catalyst substrate such as fecralloy sheet. A steam and fuel mixture (30) is supplied to the reforming section (14) where it is reformed to produce hydrogen. A fuel and an oxygen (32) containing gas mixture is supplied to the combustion section where it is catalytically combusted to supply the heat for the reformer. The close placement of the combustion and reforming catalysts facilitate efficient heat transfer. Multiple such assemblies can be bundled to form reactors of any size. The reactor made of this closely packed combustion and reforming sections is very compact.

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for the oxidative coupling of methane to generate hydrocarbon compounds containing at least two carbon atoms (C.sub.2+ compounds). The method can include mixing a first gas stream comprising methane with a second gas stream comprising oxygen to form a third gas stream comprising methane and oxygen and performing an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction using the third gas stream to produce a product stream comprising one or more C.sub.2+ compounds.

A reformer suitable for micro-scale design has horizontal catalyst tube(s) passing through a baffled radiant section for convective and radiant heat transfer to the tube(s). To reduce the footprint and/or to facilitate field assembly a combustion chamber and convection section can be oriented transversely with respect to the radiant section; the tube(s) can be horizontal and/or include structured catalyst; and/or the combustion chamber provides flameless combustion or produces a flame without impinging on the tubes. Also, a skid frame-mountable version of the reformer; and a process for transporting, assembling, and/or operating the steam methane reformer.

Disclosed herein are systems and processes for the conversion of a methane feedstock to C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons.

A reforming device 1 for producing a reformed gas from a methane-containing gas containing methane and carbon dioxide includes a reforming reaction tube 10 containing a catalyst layer 12 filled with a reforming catalyst 12a for reforming the methane-containing gas, and a multilayer pipe 103 for spraying a cooling fluid to an outer peripheral surface of the reforming reaction tube 10 at a position corresponding to a gas inlet of the catalyst layer 12 in a length direction of the catalyst layer 12.