Systems and methods are provided for improving the operation of groups of reverse flow reactors by operating reactors in a regeneration portion of the reaction cycle to have improved flue gas management. The flue gas from reactor(s) at a later portion of the regeneration step can be selectively used for recycle back to the reactors as a diluent/heat transport fluid. The flue gas from a reactor earlier in a regeneration step can be preferentially used as the gas vented from the system to maintain the desired volume of gas within the system. This results in preferential use of higher temperature flue gas for recycle and lower temperature flue gas for venting from the system. This improved use of flue gas within a reaction system including reverse flow reactors can allow for improved reaction performance while reducing or minimizing heat losses during the regeneration portion of the reaction cycle.

Systems and methods are provided for improving the operation of groups of reverse flow reactors by operating reactors in a regeneration portion of the reaction cycle to have improved flue gas management. The flue gas from reactor(s) at a later portion of the regeneration step can be selectively used for recycle back to the reactors as a diluent/heat transport fluid. The flue gas from a reactor earlier in a regeneration step can be preferentially used as the gas vented from the system to maintain the desired volume of gas within the system. This results in preferential use of higher temperature flue gas for recycle and lower temperature flue gas for venting from the system. This improved use of flue gas within a reaction system including reverse flow reactors can allow for improved reaction performance while reducing or minimizing heat losses during the regeneration portion of the reaction cycle.

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.

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.

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 reforming catalyst with improved surface area is provided by using high surface area alumina doped with a stabilizer metal as a catalyst support. The surface area of the catalyst can be higher than a typical reforming catalyst, and the surface area can also be maintained under high temperature operation. This can allow use of the catalyst for reforming in a higher temperature environment while maintaining a higher surface area, which can allow for improved dispersion and/or activity of an active metal such as rhodium on the catalyst support. The catalyst can be suitable for production of syngas from natural gas or other hydrocarbon-containing feeds.

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.

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.

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.

Device for mixing and distributing fluids for a downflow catalytic reactor, comprising: a collecting zone (A) comprising a collecting means (5); a substantially vertical collecting pipe and at least one injection means (8) opening into said collecting pipe; a mixing zone (B) comprising a fluid mixing chamber (15) of length L1, said mixing zone (15) comprising a first end in communication with said collecting pipe and a second end in communication with a fluid exchange chamber (16) of length L2, situated beneath said mixing chamber (15), the length L2 of said exchange chamber (16) being strictly greater than the length L1 of said mixing chamber (15); a distribution zone (C), situated beneath the mixing zone (B), comprising a distribution plate (12) that carries a plurality of chimneys (13), and a plurality of horizontal panels (33), situated above or on the chimneys (13).