Systems and processes for dehydrogenating one or more alkanes using electrically heated dehydrogenation reactors. The source of electric energy or power can be a power grid, solar panel, windmill, hydropower, nuclear power, fuel cell, gas turbines, steam turbines, portable generator or the like. The systems and processes provided herein result in a simpler dehydrogenation process which is particularly beneficial at a small scale and at remote locations, including the well site.

A facility for producing a composite material that includes carbon nanotubes. The facility includes a reaction chamber with an injection device for injecting an active gas mixture (for the growth of the carbon nanotubes) into the interior volume thereof. A transport device is to transport a substrate into the reaction chamber to form the composite material. The injection device may transport the active gas mixture in a first direction into the interior volume. A circulation device is to circulate the active gas mixture, and may transport the active gas mixture into the interior volume in a second direction that is different from the first direction. The circulation device may adopt a first configuration of injection of the active gas mixture into the interior volume of the chamber, and a second configuration of extraction of the active gas mixture from the interior volume.

Systems and methods are provided for production of carbon nanotubes and H.sub.2 using a reaction system configuration that is suitable for large scale production. In the reaction system, a substantial portion of the heat for the reaction can be provided by using a heated gas stream. Optionally, the heated gas stream can correspond to a heated H.sub.2 gas stream. By using a heated gas stream, when the catalyst precursors for the floating catalyst—chemical vapor deposition (FC-CVD) type catalyst are added to the gas stream, the gas stream can be at a temperature of 1000° C. or more. This can reduce or minimize loss of catalyst precursor material and/or deposition of coke on sidewalls of the reactor. Additionally, a downstream portion of the reactor can include a plurality of flow channels of reduced size that are passed through a heat exchanger environment, such as a shell and tube heat exchanger. This can provide cooling of the gas flow after catalyst formation to allow for carbon nanotube formation, while also reducing the Reynolds number of the flow sufficiently to provide laminar flow within the region where carbon nanotubes are formed.

A facility for producing a composite material that includes carbon nanotubes. The facility includes a reaction chamber with an injection device for injecting an active gas mixture (for the growth of the carbon nanotubes) into the interior volume thereof. A transport device is to transport a substrate into the reaction chamber to form the composite material. The injection device may transport the active gas mixture in a first direction into the interior volume. A circulation device is to circulate the active gas mixture, and may transport the active gas mixture into the interior volume in a second direction that is different from the first direction. The circulation device may adopt a first configuration of injection of the active gas mixture into the interior volume of the chamber, and a second configuration of extraction of the active gas mixture from the interior volume.

The invention is directed to a chemical reactor (100) having (a) two or more gas reactor elements (12) with each gas reactor element (12) having (i) a first reaction chamber (38), and (ii) a feed assembly unit (36), (b) a second reaction chamber (20) coupled with each of the two or more gas reactor elements (12) and configured to independently receive two or more product streams from the two or more gas reactor elements (12); and optionally, (c) a gas converging section (40) located downstream to the second reaction chamber (20). The invention is further directed to a method of producing chemical products using the chemical reactor (100) of the present invention.

A process for the oxidation of powder materials containing starch, which comprises the steps of mixing a powder material comprising starch with an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2O.sub.2), adding to the mixture thus obtained an aqueous solution of ammonia which reacts with said mixture and drying the mixture to obtain a powder material containing oxidized starch.

This disclosure relates to a processing that includes a first shell and a second shell disposed within the first shell. The second shell includes a first end, a second end, and a wall extending between the first end and the second end. The second shell also defines a cavity and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. A cross section of the second shell transverse to the longitudinal axis includes a first arcuate inner wall portion having a first radius of curvature and a second arcuate inner wall portion having a second radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is larger than the second radius of curvature.

An apparatus includes an integrated heat exchanger and reactor module. The integrated heat exchanger and reactor module includes a heat exchanger channel, and a reactor channel which is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger channel. The reactor channel includes a layer of catalyst material that is configured to produce hydrogen by endothermic catalytic decomposition of ammonia, which flows through the reactor channel, using thermal energy that is absorbed by the reactor channel from the heat exchanger channel.

This disclosure describes an improved heat transfer system for use in reaction vessels used in chemical and biological processes. In one embodiment, a heat transfer baffle comprising two sub-assemblies adjoined to one another is provided.

A reactor and process for the production of bio-diesel. The reactor includes one or more coiled reaction lines. The lines are positioned within a tank containing a heat transfer media such as molten salt, maintained at about 750° F. A pump circulates the media within the tank. An emulsion of alcohol; refined feed stock, including glycerides and/or fatty acids; and preferably water is pumped through the reaction lines at temperatures and pressures sufficient to maintain the alcohol in a super-critical state. The curvature of the coils, pump pulsing, and the flow rate of the emulsion keep the emulsion in a turbulent state while in the reactor, ensuring thorough mixing of the alcohol and feed stock. The alcohol reacts with the glycerides and fatty acids to form bio-diesel. The reaction is fast, efficient with regard to energy input and waste generation, and requires minimal alcohol.