In a process for carrying out a chemical reaction gaseous reactants are supplied to a first reaction zone including a first catalyst having a first particle equivalent diameter. The first reaction zone is operated such that when the reactants are contacted with the first catalyst a portion of the reactants is converted to the desired product. An intermediate stream of unreacted reactants and the desired product is removed and passed to a second reaction zone including a tubular reactor. Tubes of the reactor are catalyst carriers containing a second catalyst having a second particle equivalent diameter smaller than the first particle equivalent diameter. The second reaction zone is operated such that when the unreacted reactants are contacted with the second catalyst, at least some of the unreacted reactants are converted to the desired product. A product stream is then recovered. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also described.

The present invention relates to a process for the selective hydrogenation of a feed of hydrocarbons containing polyunsaturated molecules comprising at least 3 carbon atoms, using a single principal fixed bed reactor R1 containing at least two catalytic beds A1 and A2 and a fixed bed guard reactor which is reduced in size, said hydrogenation reactors being disposed in series for use in a cyclic manner in accordance with a sequence of steps which can be used to short-circuit the catalytic bed or beds of the principal reactor which have been at least partially deactivated with the aid of the guard reactor, while ensuring the continuous operation of the process.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing dimethyl ether from methanol which is carried out in a reaction device arranged with a plurality of catalyst bed layers connected in series, and comprises: dividing the reactant stream that contains methanol into n substreams, and feeding these different substreams into the reaction device through top feed ports or side feed ports between the catalyst bed layers of the reaction device for methanol-to-dimethyl ether reaction; wherein, the temperature T1 of the substream fed into the first catalyst bed layer is controlled within the following range: 29050K1T1150K1.sup.2271K1+397.5; where, 1>K10.5, and T1 is in unit of C.

The present invention relates to a process for converting natural gas to higher hydrocarbon(s) including aromatic hydrocarbon(s) in n reaction zones operated in series, wherein m reaction zones are not participating in the conversion process and only (nm) reaction zones are operated under reaction conditions sufficient to convert at least a portion of said natural gas to an effluent having said higher hydrocarbon(s). An object of the present invention is to provide a process for converting natural gas to higher hydrocarbon(s) including aromatic hydrocarbon(s) wherein a high reactant, i.e. methane, conversion can be achieved.

Disclosed are a device and a method for continuously polymerizing polybutene by removing halogen acid, which is included in a reaction raw material, by adsorbing the halogen acid using an adsorbent and then re-supplying the reaction raw material into a reactor. The device for re-circulating the raw material when manufacturing polybutene comprises a reactor, into which a catalyst and a reaction raw material (diluted with an inactive organic solvent) are supplied and polymerized to produce a reaction product; a neutralizing/washing tank for removing the catalyst from the reaction product and neutralizing the reaction product; a separation tank for separating the reaction product into organic compounds and water; a C4 distillation column for distilling an unreacted raw material and the inactive organic solvent from the organic compounds; and an impurity adsorption column for removing halogen acid from the distilled unreacted raw material and the inactive organic solvent using an adsorbent.

The present disclosure provides oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) systems for small scale and world scale production of olefins. An OCM system may comprise an OCM subsystem that generates a product stream comprising C.sub.2+ compounds and non-C.sub.2+ impurities from methane and an oxidizing agent. At least one separations subsystem downstream of, and fluidically coupled to, the OCM subsystem can be used to separate the non-C.sub.2+ impurities from the C.sub.2+ compounds. A methanation subsystem downstream and fluidically coupled to the OCM subsystem can be used to react H.sub.2 with CO and/or CO.sub.2 in the non-C.sub.2+ impurities to generate methane, which can be recycled to the OCM subsystem. The OCM system can be integrated in a non-OCM system, such as a natural gas liquids system or an existing ethylene cracker.

The invention relates to a process for producing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and a carbon-containing product in at least one reaction apparatus, wherein the at least one reaction apparatus comprises a bed of carbon-containing material and is characterized in that the bed of carbon-containing material in the at least one reaction apparatus is alternately heated to a temperature of >800 C. and, no later than upon reaching a temperature of 1800 C., cooled to a maximum of 800 C., wherein hydrogen and carbon monoxide are produced during the heating phase and carbon and hydrogen are produced during the cooling phase.

The present disclosure provides oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) systems for small scale and world scale production of olefins. An OCM system may comprise an OCM subsystem that generates a product stream comprising C.sub.2+ compounds and non-C.sub.2+ impurities from methane and an oxidizing agent. At least one separations subsystem downstream of, and fluidically coupled to, the OCM subsystem can be used to separate the non-C.sub.2+ impurities from the C.sub.2+ compounds. A methanation subsystem downstream and fluidically coupled to the OCM subsystem can be used to react H.sub.2 with CO and/or CO.sub.2 in the non-C.sub.2+ impurities to generate methane, which can be recycled to the OCM subsystem. The OCM system can be integrated in a non-OCM system, such as a natural gas liquids system or an existing ethylene cracker.

Systems and methods conducive to the formation of one or more alkene hydrocarbons using a methane source and an oxidant in an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction are provided. One or more vessels each containing one or more catalyst beds containing one or more catalysts each having similar or differing chemical composition or physical form may be used. The one or more catalyst beds may be operated under a variety of conditions. At least a portion of the catalyst beds may be operated under substantially adiabatic conditions. At least a portion of the catalyst beds may be operated under substantially isothermal conditions.

The present disclosure relates to reactor components and their use, e.g., in regenerative reactors. A process and apparatus for utilizing different wetted areas along the flow path of a fluid in a pyrolysis reactor, e.g., a thermally regenerating reactor, such as a regenerative, reverse-flow reactor, is described.