A method for removing contaminants from an process stream that includes the use of reticulated material to filter the process stream. The reticulated material also facilitate process stream flow distribution in process units. The reticulated material can be packed with a void space between a substantial number of the reticulated material that can be varied to enhance filtration and flow distribution. The method of filtering also provides a method of removing contaminants leaving process equipment. The methods can be used on a variety of process streams and process equipment. The reticulated material can include ceramics, metallic materials, and chemical vapor deposition elements. The reticulated material can be of various shapes and sizes, and can also be catalytically active.

The invention relates to a reactor for the catalytic production of methanol, in which at least two catalyst layers are arranged. The first catalyst layer is arranged upstream and the second catalyst layer is arranged downstream. The activity of the first catalyst layer is higher than the activity of the second catalyst layer.

A fuel cell system includes a reformer generating a reformed gas from a fuel gas supplied from a fuel supplier by a reforming reaction to discharge a mixed gas of the fuel gas unreacted and the reformed gas, and including a catalyst device including a catalyst used for the reforming reaction and a fuel cell stack including an anode receiving the reformed gas generated at the reformer, a cathode receiving oxygen, and a reforming device generating a reformed gas from the unreacted fuel gas of the mixed gas supplied from the reformer by a reforming reaction to be provided to the anode and being installed integrally with or adjacent to the anode, and the reformer controls the amount of the unreacted fuel gas discharged from the reformer to increase and decrease a reforming amount inside the fuel cell stack based on a temperature of the fuel cell stack.

A contacting device and method are presented for the collection, contacting, and distribution of fluids between particulate beds of a downflow vessel, which may operate in co-current flow. By one approach, the contacting device includes a liquid collection tray, a mixing channel in fluid communication with the liquid collection tray, and a liquid distribution zone.

Disclosed herein are systems and processes involving the catalyzed cleavage reaction of dimethyl sulfide to methyl mercaptan. The catalyzed cleavage reaction can be a standalone system or process, or can be integrated with a methyl mercaptan production plant.

The invention relates to a methanol synthesis reactor for producing methanol from a synthesis gas mixture. The reactor according to the invention includes a pressure jacket having an interior in which a first and a second process unit are arranged one atop the other. Both process units are fluidically interconnected at least in respect of the process gases and configured as plate heat exchangers, preferably pillow plate heat exchangers. The plate interiors are traversable from bottom to top by cooling media while the plate interspaces are traversable from top to bottom by process gases, in particular synthesis gas and methanol-containing product streams. At least the first of the two process units has a methanol synthesis catalyst on the plate interspace side. The second process unit is used for cooling or further conversion of the product stream obtainable in the first process unit.

A method for removing contaminants from an process stream that includes the use of reticulated material to filter the process stream. The reticulated material also facilitate process stream flow distribution in process units. The reticulated material can be packed with a void space between a substantial number of the reticulated material that can be varied to enhance filtration and flow distribution. The method of filtering also provides a method of removing contaminants leaving process equipment. The methods can be used on a variety of process streams and process equipment. The reticulated material can include ceramics, metallic materials, and chemical vapor deposition elements. The reticulated material can be of various shapes and sizes, and can also be catalytically active.

A method and assembly for utilizing open-cell cellular solid material in a component separation unit to separate one or more process streams into component process streams having desired compositions. A method and assembly for using said open-cell cellular solid material to separate process streams into desired component process streams in a component separation unit, wherein the open-cell cellular solid material can include oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, ceramics, metals, polymers, and chemical vapor deposition materials.

A contacting device and method are presented for the collection, contacting, and distribution of fluids between particulate beds of a downflow vessel, which may operate in co-current flow. By one approach, the contacting device includes a liquid collection tray, a mixing channel in fluid communication with the liquid collection tray, and a liquid distribution zone.

A method for removing contaminants from an process stream that includes the use of reticulated material to filter the process stream. The reticulated material also facilitate process stream flow distribution in process units. The reticulated material can be packed with a void space between a substantial number of the reticulated material that can be varied to enhance filtration and flow distribution. The method of filtering also provides a method of removing contaminants leaving process equipment. The methods can be used on a variety of process streams and process equipment. The reticulated material can include ceramics, metallic materials, and chemical vapor deposition elements. The reticulated material can be of various shapes and sizes, and can also be catalytically active.