A method for loading an axial-radial flow vessel containing a bed of a particulate catalyst having a radial-flow portion and an axial-flow portion supported on and in fluid communication with the radial flow portion, includes: (i) placing a first catalyst material in the radial-flow portion and (ii) placing a second catalyst material in the axial-flow portion, wherein the second catalyst material has a smaller particle size than the first catalyst material. A vessel loaded with first and second catalyst materials is also described.

A support structure for a structured catalytic packing is disclosed. The support structure is in a fixed position relative to the reactor tube containing it. It supports catalyzed casings that are free to move relative to the support structure. The support structure and casings are inserted in the reactor tube such that the support structure is located proximate the longitudinal axis of the tube and the casings are located between the support structure and the reactor tube wall. The support structure comprises a central support tube or rod proximate to, and impervious or perforated discs perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of the reactor tube, and may comprise spacers separating the discs.

Provided is a hydrogen production reactor as a reactor producing a reforming gas including hydrogen, in which a burning unit and a reforming unit are sequentially arranged and spaced apart from each other in a concentric structure based on a raw material transfer pipe positioned at a central axis of the reactor, including a heating raw material transfer pipe supplying a raw material to the burning unit, a burning unit burning the supplied raw material and supplying heat to the reforming unit, a reforming raw material phase change pipe positioned within the burning unit and heating the supplied raw material, and a reforming unit reforming the phase-changed raw material supplied from the reforming raw material phase change pipe, wherein the reforming raw material phase change pipe is provided as a coil surrounding an outer circumferential surface of a lower end of the heating raw material transfer pipe.

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.

A reactor having a shell comprising: one or more reactor tubes located within the shell, said reactor tube or tubes comprising a plurality of catalyst receptacles containing catalyst; means for providing a heat transfer fluid to the reactor shell such that the heat transfer fluid contacts the tube or tubes; an inlet for providing reactants to the reactor tubes; and an outlet for recovering products from the reactor tubes; wherein the plurality of catalyst receptacles containing catalyst within a tube comprises catalyst receptacles containing catalyst of at least two configurations.

Methods, apparatus and processes for three phase contacting and reactions in a cross flow reactor with reduced feed vaporization, low pressure operation, higher liquid holdup, lower reactor pressure drop, low severity operation, and reduced product inhibitory effects. A cross flow reactor for three phase catalytic hydroprocessing, having at least one reactor stage is disclosed. The reactor stage has a central gas distributor with perforated lateral surface for distributing gas, a middle region accommodating a packed catalyst bed, and an outer gas space for removal of effluent gases from the middle region. The middle region receives a liquid reactant and gas from central gas distributor to carry out three phase catalytic hydroprocessing reaction.

A catalyst reactor basket is provided that includes an outer side wall extending along the outer circumferential periphery and an inner side wall disposed within the outer side wall. An aperture is sized and shaped to allow a fluid to flow axially with respect to the basket. First and second covers are disposed on opposite ends of the outer side wall and inner side wall and a dividing wall is disposed between the first and second covers. The dividing wall defines a first and second chamber within the inner volume of the basket. A plurality of partitions are disposed within the first and second chambers. The plurality of partitions define a plurality of compartments within the first and second chambers, each compartment being sized and shaped to receive a catalyst.

A multi-bed catalytic converter (1) with inter-bed heat exchangers, comprising a plurality of superimposed catalytic beds and a common heat exchanger (5) which is shared between two or more consecutive catalytic beds, said common heat exchanger including heat exchange bodies such as a tube bundle (6), and a wall system (9, 10) to define a tube side and a shell side respectively, and the shell side comprising at least a first space (12) and a second space (13), wherein the first space (12) receives the product gas leaving the first of said consecutive beds, and the inter-cooled gas leaving said first space (12) is admitted in the second bed (3-3) for further conversion, and a sealing means (14) preventing a direct gas passage from said first space to said second space.

A catalyst reactor basket is provided that includes an outer side wall extending along the outer circumferential periphery and an inner side wall disposed within the outer side wall. An aperture is sized and shaped to allow a fluid to flow axially with respect to the basket. First and second covers are disposed on opposite ends of the outer side wall and inner side wall and a dividing wall is disposed between the first and second covers. The dividing wall defines a first and second chamber within the inner volume of the basket. A plurality of partitions are disposed within the first and second chambers. The plurality of partitions define a plurality of compartments within the first and second chambers, each compartment being sized and shaped to receive a catalyst.

A steam reformer is provided which comprises at least one externally-heated tube. Each tube comprises a first catalyst bed comprising a first catalyst in particulate form and a second catalyst supported on a structure, wherein said first catalyst bed is located between the inlet of the tube and the second catalyst supported on said structure. A process for steam reforming of a feed gas mixture using said steam reformer is also provided.