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 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 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.

In a cooled axial/radial flow converter, in which process gas passes from an outer annulus via a catalyst bed to an inner center tube, the catalyst bed is divided into identical modules stacked on top of each other. The process gas reaches the catalyst through openings facing the outer annulus, passes axially down the catalyst bed of each module, leaves the module through collectors in the bottom thereof, and flows to the center tube. The catalyst bed is cooled by cooling panels, in which the process gas is pre-heated to the reaction temperature, while at the same time the heat of reaction is partly removed from the catalyst bed. The converter is especially suitable as ammonia converter.

A process for steam or dry reforming of hydrocarbons in a reforming reactor, comprising the steps of: (a) passing a feedstock, comprising one or more hydrocarbons together with steam and/or CO.sub.2, through a first catalytic zone at an elevated temperature, to form a partly reformed process gas, wherein the first catalytic zone comprises one or more elongate conduits, each containing reforming catalyst; and (b) passing the partly reformed process gas through a second catalytic zone at an elevated temperature, so as to form a reformed gas stream, wherein the second catalytic zone comprises one or more elongate conduits, each containing reforming catalyst; wherein the process further comprises the combustion of a fluid fuel with a combustion-sustaining medium in an exothermic combustion region, to form a hot combustion products stream, wherein the exothermic combustion region is adjacent to and laterally surrounds each of the second catalytic zone elongate conduits.

In a cooled axial/radial flow converter, in which process gas passes from an outer annulus via a catalyst bed to an inner centre tube, the catalyst bed is divided into identical modules stacked on top of each other. The process gas reaches the catalyst through openings facing the outer annulus, passes axially down the catalyst bed of each module, leaves the module through collectors in the bottom thereof, and flows to the centre tube. The catalyst bed is cooled by cooling panels, in which the process gas is pre-heated to the reaction temperature, while at the same time the heat of reaction is partly removed from the catalyst bed. The converter is especially suitable as ammonia converter.

A reactor configured to release hydrogen from a hydrogen-bearing, liquid compound, having a reactor vessel which comprises at least one body with metallic support structure. A solid, highly porous coating is applied on said at least one body which comprises catalytically acting substances for the release of hydrogen from the liquid, hydrogen-bearing compound, wherein the at least one body with metallic support structure comprises at least one cutout with a volume that remains the same or becomes larger from along a cross-sectional dimension extending from bottom to top, based on the reactor vessel.

The present technology relates to a heat exchange reactor (HER) system comprising a first gas feed and a heat exchange reactor, HER. The HER has two reaction zones; a first reaction zone (I) arranged to carry out an overall exothermic reaction of the first gas feed, and a second reaction zone (II) arranged to carry out an overall endothermic reaction of gas from said first reaction zone (I).

Described herein are improved chemical reactors for carrying out partial oxidation reactions. The chemical reactor permits the use of levels of oxygen above the lower explosion limit (LEL) typically used in partial oxidation reactions, which increases both volumetric reactivity and conversion per pass, resulting in reduced separation and reactant recycle costs. Also described are methods of using the reactors.

A multi-stage shift reactor includes a vessel having an inner chamber configured to contain a first shift catalyst, the first shift catalyst configured to receive anode exhaust gas form a fuel cell and to output a first shifted gas, and an outer chamber annularly disposed about the inner chamber and configured to contain a second shift catalyst, the second shift catalyst configured to receive the first shifted gas and output a second shifted gas. The shift reactor further includes a water injection port downstream from the inner chamber and packing between the water injection port and the outer chamber, the packing configured to prevent liquid water from passing therethrough.