Proposed is a process for producing methanol from synthesis gas by means of multi-stage, for example 2-stage, heterogeneously catalyzed methanol synthesis, wherein the methanol product formed in every synthesis stage is removed by condensation and the remaining residual gas is applied to the downstream synthesis stage or after removal of a purge stream recycled to the first synthesis stage as a recycle stream. According to the invention a substream is removed from the synthesis gas fresh gas and introduced into the second methanol synthesis reactor as a bypass stream.

A fluidized-bed reactor (1A) includes a reaction vessel (10A) configured to contain metallurgical grade silicon powder and a hydrogen chloride gas, and a portion of a side wall (w) which portion extends along at least 80% of a height extending from a gas feed opening (21), which is provided in a lower part of the reaction vessel (10A), to a top face of a fluid bed (40) has such a tapered shape that a cross section of the reaction vessel (10A) which cross section is taken perpendicular to a height direction of the reaction vessel (10A) increases in area in an upward direction.

A heat integrated steam reformer, which incorporates a catalytic combustor, which can be used in a fuel processor for hydrogen production from a fuel source, is described. The reformer assembly comprises a reforming section and a combustion section, separated by a wall. Catalyst (21) able to induce the reforming reactions is placed in the reforming section, either in the form of pellets or in the form of coating on a suitable structured catalyst substrate such as fecralloy sheets. Catalyst (22) able to induce the combustion reactions is placed in the combustion section in the form of coating on suitable structured catalyst substrate such as fecralloy sheet. A steam and fuel mixture (30) is supplied to the reforming section (14) where it is reformed to produce hydrogen. A fuel and an oxygen (32) containing gas mixture is supplied to the combustion section where it is catalytically combusted to supply the heat for the reformer. The close placement of the combustion and reforming catalysts facilitate efficient heat transfer. Multiple such assemblies can be bundled to form reactors of any size. The reactor made of this closely packed combustion and reforming sections is very compact.

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for the oxidative coupling of methane to generate hydrocarbon compounds containing at least two carbon atoms (C.sub.2+ compounds). The method can include mixing a first gas stream comprising methane with a second gas stream comprising oxygen to form a third gas stream comprising methane and oxygen and performing an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction using the third gas stream to produce a product stream comprising one or more C.sub.2+ compounds.

The present relates to a chemical reactor comprising a catalyst bed enclosed in a reactor vessel and at least one cooling tube placed in the reactor vessel and passing through the catalyst bed, characterized in that the cooling tubes are disposed within the reactor so as to generate thermal gradients of at least 20 C./cm thereby generating hot spots throughout the reactor upon carrying out a reaction. The invention further relates to a methanation process.

A method of revamping vertical converters having a bolt-on flanged pressure shell extension for housing an internal heat exchanger is performed by replacing an existing pressure shell extension with a larger pressure shell extension for housing a plurality of internal heat exchangers.

A process for endothermic dehydrogenation including contacting a catalyst material in a moving bed reactor having at least one reaction zone, the moving bed reactor comprising a heat exchanger containing a heating medium, wherein the catalyst material and the heating medium do not contact one another, and wherein at least 50% of the delta enthalpy of the at least one reaction zone is provided by the heat exchanger; and contacting a feedstock comprising hydrocarbons with the catalyst material in the at least one reaction zone of the moving bed reactor under reaction conditions to convert at least a portion of the hydrocarbons to a first effluent comprising a product comprising alkenes, alkynes, cyclic hydrocarbons, and/or aromatics.

A reactor (1) for thermochemical reactions is provided comprising a reactor shell (13) having an inlet (2) and an outlet (3). Solid catalyst (16) is provided in reaction zones (4a, 4b, 4c) in which at least a portion of reactants entering the reactor (1) undergo a thermochemical reaction. A heat exchange medium is provided in heat exchange zones such that heat is exchanged between the reaction zones (4a, 4b, 4c) and the heat exchange medium. One or more hollow inserts (11) at least partially extend through the reaction zones (4a, 4b, 4c). The hollow inserts (11) are configured to form a flow path to either: divert a portion of the reactants from the reactor inlet (2) or from one reaction zone to a different reaction zone; or divert a portion of the heat exchange medium from one heat exchange zone to a different heat exchange zone.

The present invention provides a method of cooling a regenerated catalyst and a device thereof, which employs low-line-speed operation, wherein a range of the superficial gas velocity is 0.005-0.7 m/s, wherein at least one fluidization wind distributor is provided, wherein the main fluidization wind enters the dense bed layer of the catalyst cooler from the distributor, and the heat removal load of the catalyst cooler and/or the temperature of the cold catalyst is controlled by adjusting the fluidization wind quantity. The method and a device thereof of the present invention has an extensive application range, and can be extensively used for various fluid catalytic cracking processes, including heavy oil catalytic cracking, wax oil catalytic cracking, light hydrocarbon catalytic conversion and the like, or used for other gas-solid fluidization reaction charring processes, including residual oil pretreating, methanol to olefin, methanol to aromatics, fluid coking, flexicoking and the like.

A heat integrated steam reformer, which incorporates a catalytic combustor, which can be used in a fuel processor for hydrogen production from a fuel source, is described. The reformer assembly comprises a reforming section and a combustion section, separated by a wall. Catalyst (21) able to induce the reforming reactions is placed in the reforming section, either in the form of pellets or in the form of coating on a suitable structured catalyst substrate such as fecralloy sheets. Catalyst (22) able to induce the combustion reactions is placed in the combustion section in the form of coating on suitable structured catalyst substrate such as fecralloy sheet. A steam and fuel mixture (30) is supplied to the reforming section (14) where it is reformed to produce hydrogen. A fuel and an oxygen (32) containing gas mixture is supplied to the combustion section where it is catalytically combusted to supply the heat for the reformer. The close placement of the combustion and reforming catalysts facilitate efficient heat transfer. Multiple such assemblies can be bundled to form reactors of any size. The reactor made of this closely packed combustion and reforming sections is very compact.