A fixed bed, radial flow reforming reactor having an inner catalyst zone between an inlet fluid zone and an outlet fluid zone. The catalyst zone is separated into two concentric, annular zones, a first annular zone having a first solid particle material having a first catalytic activity for reforming hydrocarbons into the catalyst zone, and, a second annular zone having a second solid particle material having a second catalytic activity for reforming hydrocarbons into the catalyst zone, wherein the second catalytic activity is different. One of the materials may be inert. A divider may be used to separate the two annular zones.

An ammonia synthesis converter for small production units which provides full access for routine maintenance and catalyst replacement while providing adequate catalyst pressure drop to ensure kinetic performance and reduce heat leak from the catalyst beds. A shell has a removable top head and an annular basket is removably mounted in the shell. First and second catalyst beds are disposed in side-by-side catalyst pods in the annular zone of the basket extending substantially a height of the basket for axial down-flow in series. A quench gas is introduced into effluent from the first catalyst bed and the resulting mixture flows through the annular 10 zone into a top of the second catalyst bed. A feed-effluent interchanger in the inner basket zone is adapted to receive effluent from the second catalyst bed and indirectly heat a feed to the first catalyst bed. Also, methods of operating and servicing the converter.

An ammonia synthesis converter for small production units which provides full access for routine maintenance and catalyst replacement while providing adequate catalyst pressure drop to ensure kinetic performance and reduce heat leak from the catalyst beds. A shell has a removable top head and an annular basket is removably mounted in the shell. First and second catalyst beds are disposed in side-by-side catalyst pods in the annular zone of the basket extending substantially a height of the basket for axial down-flow in series. A quench gas is introduced into effluent from the first catalyst bed and the resulting mixture flows through the annular zone into a top of the second catalyst bed. A feed-effluent interchanger in the inner basket zone is adapted to receive effluent from the second catalyst bed and indirectly heat a feed to the first catalyst bed. Also, methods of operating and servicing the converter.

There is described a reactor for generating ammonia from a synthesis gas by an exothermic reaction. The reactor comprises: a reactor vessel having a first inlet and one or more second inlets for receiving the synthesis gas, the reactor vessel configured as a quench cooled reactor having a plurality of reactor segments, the one or more second inlets being quench inlets, the reactor vessel having a base region with one or more exit ports configured to output synthesis gas and ammonia gas received from the reactor segments; a first heat exchanger coupled between the first inlet and the base region for transferring heat between the output gases and synthesis gas flowing to the first inlet; a reverse bypass configured to receive output gases from one of the one or more exit ports and bypass the first heat exchanger; and a control system configured to selectively control the flow of output gases through the first heat exchanger and reverse bypass. There are also described methods of generating ammonia from a synthesis gas by exothermic reaction. There is further described an energy storage system and a controller.