A fixed bed reactor system for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane, comprising a catalyst bed wherein the catalyst capacity profile increases along the length of catalyst bed from the upstream end to the downstream end. The catalyst bed may include one or more sections, across one or more fixed bed reactors, that are identified by a change in catalyst capacity. Catalyst capacity, or the ability to convert ethane into ethylene, may be altered by changing the dilution ratio, void fraction, and or the 35% conversion temperature. A method for loading a fixed bed reactor with an increasing catalyst capacity is also described.

The invention relates to a reactor system for oxidative coupling of methane (OCM), comprising: reactor system for oxidative coupling of methane (OCM), comprising: (a) an inlet configured to receive a reactant mixture; (b) a reaction chamber having an upstream end and a downstream end such that the reaction chamber extends from the upstream end to the downstream end, and the reaction chamber comprises a catalyst bed having a catalyst composition having at least two catalyst components: (i) a low selectivity catalyst component; and (ii) a high selectivity catalyst component; and (c) an outlet configured to recover a C.sub.2+ hydrocarbon product mixture from the reactor system; wherein the reactor system is configured such that the reactant mixture substantially contacts the high selectivity catalyst component prior to contacting the low selectivity catalyst component. The invention further describes a process for the production of C.sub.2+ hydrocarbon product mixture using the present reactor system.

A method for producing methane that includes supplying a raw material gas containing hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, and carbon dioxide gas to a reactor provided with a catalyst, thereby starting a methanation reaction using heat including reaction heat due to catalyst combustion of the hydrogen gas; and continuing the methanation reaction.

Catalyst systems are provided for reforming of hydrocarbons, along with methods for using such catalyst systems. The catalyst systems can be deposited or otherwise coated on a surface or structure, such as a monolith, to achieve improved activity and/or structural stability. The metal oxide support layer can correspond to a thermally stable metal oxide support layer, such as a metal oxide support layer that is thermally phase stable at temperatures of 800° C. to 1600° C. The catalyst systems can be beneficial for use in cyclical reaction environments, such as reverse flow reactors or other types of reactors that are operated using flows in opposing directions and different times within a reaction cycle.

Systems and methods are provided for using size-reversing materials in vessels where direct heating is used to at least partially provide heat for reforming reactions under cyclic reforming conditions. An example of a size-reversing material is the combination of NiO and Al.sub.2O.sub.3. It has been discovered that size-reversing materials can undergo a phase transition that can assist with re-dispersion of metal at elevated temperatures. This can assist with maintaining catalytic activity for reforming over longer time periods in the presence of cyclic reforming conditions.

A naphtha reforming reactor system comprising a first reactor comprising a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first reactor is configured to operate as an adiabatic reactor, and wherein the first reactor comprises a first naphtha reforming catalyst; and a second reactor comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet is in fluid communication with the first outlet of the first reactor, wherein the second reactor is configured to operate as an isothermal reactor, and wherein the second reactor comprises a plurality of tubes disposed within a reactor furnace, a heat source configured to heat the interior of the reactor furnace; and a second naphtha reforming catalyst disposed within the plurality of tubes, wherein the first naphtha reforming catalyst and the second naphtha reforming catalyst are the same or different.

A process for conducting exothermic equilibrium reactions, especially for the performance of methanol synthesis by heterogeneously catalysed conversion of synthesis gas, is proposed, which enables readjustment and hence optimization of the reaction conditions along the longitudinal coordinate of the reactor. For this purpose, in the process according to the invention, a reactor is used which is divided into a multitude of series-connected reaction cells, each of which comprises a preheating zone, a cooled reaction zone, one or more cooling zones and a deposition zone for condensable reaction products. In this way, the reaction conditions are adjustable to the respective, local composition of the reaction mixture and variable over the reactor length.

Systems and methods are provided for hydrogenation of CO.sub.2 in a reverse flow reactor environment via a reverse water gas shift reaction. A reverse flow reactor environment is suitable for performing endothermic reactions at high temperatures, where a reactant flow is passed into the reactor in a first portion of the cycle in a first flow direction while a combustion or heating flow is passed into the reactor during a second portion of the reaction cycle from the opposite direction. This can allow for efficient heating of surfaces within the reactor to provide heat for the endothermic reverse water gas shift reaction while reducing or minimizing incorporation of combustion products into the desired reaction products.

Systems and methods are provided for improving thermal management and/or efficiency of reaction systems including a reverse flow reactor for performance of at least one endothermic reaction and at least one supplemental exothermic reaction. The supplemental exothermic reaction can be performed in the recuperation zone of the reverse flow reactor system. By integrating the supplemental exothermic reaction into the recuperation zone, the heat generated from the supplemental exothermic reaction can be absorbed by heat transfer surfaces in the recuperation zone. The adsorbed heat can then be used to heat at least one of the fuel and the oxidant for the combustion reaction performed during regeneration, thus reducing the amount of combustion that is needed to achieve a desired temperature profile at the end of the regeneration step.

A reactor for conducting exothermic equilibrium reactions, especially for the performance of methanol synthesis by heterogeneously catalysed conversion of synthesis gas, is proposed, which enables readjustment and hence optimization of the reaction conditions along the longitudinal coordinate of the reactor. For this purpose, in accordance with the invention, the reactor is divided into a multitude of series-connected reaction cells, each of which comprises a preheating zone, a cooled reaction zone, one or more cooling zones and a deposition zone for condensable reaction products. In this way, the reaction conditions are adjustable to the respective, local composition of the reaction mixture and variable over the reactor length.