Higher throughput in aqueous addition polymerization is made possible by use of an external shell and tube heat exchanger operated in reverse mode, with coolant flowing through the tubes and polymerization mixture flowing through the shell around the tubes.

Integrated liquid fuel catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reformer and fuel cell systems can include a plurality or an array of spaced-apart CPOX reactor units, each reactor unit including an elongated tube having a gas-permeable wall with internal and external surfaces. The wall encloses an unobstructed gaseous flow passageway. At least a portion of the wall has CPOX catalyst disposed therein and/or comprising its structure. The catalyst-containing wall structure and open gaseous flow passageway enclosed thereby define a gaseous phase CPOX reaction zone, the catalyst-containing wall section being gas-permeable to allow gaseous CPOX reaction mixture to diffuse therein and hydrogen rich product reformate to diffuse therefrom. The liquid fuel CPOX reformer also can include a vaporizer, one or more igniters, and a source of liquid reformable fuel. The hydrogen-rich reformate can be converted to electricity within a fuel cell unit integrated with the CPOX reactor unit.

The present invention presents a system for and method of processing a particulate material, for example carbonaceous materials, food products or minerals, to produce a processed material having more desirable properties. The method comprises the steps of: introducing the particulate material into a chamber; providing a flow of fluid into said chamber for entraining the particulate material via inlets at a lower end of the chamber; and providing an exhaust of fluid out of the chamber via an outlet at an upper end of the chamber. The chamber comprises a processing zone having a substantially circular transverse cross-section, the fluid flow being introduced into the processing zone at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to a tangent of the substantially circular transverse cross-section of the processing zone to establish a fluid flow following a substantially helical path in the processing chamber. Said processing zone is provided in a central region of said chamber. Individual particulate material during processing in the processing zone is entrained by the fluid flow exceeding the terminal velocity of the particulate material, exits the processing zone in a radially outward direction, circulates to a base of the chamber and then returns to the processing zone in a repeated cycle. Individual particulate material can increase in mass or aggregate to form a mass of particulate material with larger mass during processing until its terminal velocity exceeds the fluid flow and thereby exits the processing zone by descending through an opening at the base of the chamber under gravity. A toroidal bed reactor is also provided.

The present invention provides a feed gas feeding system for a propylene ammoxidation reactor. The feed gas feeding system comprises a feed gas mixing system and a feed distributor. A propylene and ammonia mixed gas is mixed by the feed gas mixing system and then uniformly distributed in the propylene ammoxidation reactor by means of the feed distributor, an initial temperature T.sub.0 when the propylene and ammonia mixed gas enters the feed distributor being 10-220 C. The propylene and ammonia feed gas feeding system of the present invention for ammoxidation of propylene and the preparation of acrylonitrile prevents the temperature of a gas mixture at any position in the propylene and ammonia feed distributor from reaching a temperature at which ammonia decomposes into active nitrogen atoms, thereby reducing a risk of brittle nitriding fractures of the propylene and ammonia distributor.

The present application is a generation device including a reaction section which generates a product gas and product water in which the product gas is dissolved through an exothermic reaction of gaseous reactants, a cooling tower which cools cooling water that removes heat generated by the exothermic reaction, a cooling water circulation system which circulates the cooling water between the reaction section and the cooling tower, and piping for mixing the product water generated in the reaction section into the cooling water circulation system.

A process for hydrogenation of an aromatic hydrocarbon including introducing a hydrocarbon feed comprising the aromatic hydrocarbon, a hydrogen feed comprising hydrogen, and a hydrogenation catalyst into a hydrogenation reactor operable with a liquid phase and a gas phase to produce a hydrogenation product; removing a gas phase product stream comprising the hydrogenation product; withdrawing a portion of the liquid phase; subjecting the withdrawn portion to heat exchange to provide a reduced-temperature withdrawn portion; introducing the reduced-temperature withdrawn portion back into the hydrogenation reactor; and at least one of: (a) providing at least two heat exchangers to effect the subjecting of the withdrawn portion of the liquid phase to heat exchange; (b) separating a decomposition product of the hydrogenation catalyst, the hydrogenation catalyst, or both, from the withdrawn portion of the liquid phase prior to the heat exchange; and (c) reducing exposure of the hydrogenation catalyst to an oxygen-containing species.

A mixing reactor for precipitating nanoparticles by mixing a precursor fluid with a second fluid at a higher temperature than the precursor fluid. The reactor comprises: a first fluid conduit with an inlet region configured to receive a flow of the precursor fluid, and an outlet region configured to output a mixed flow; and a second fluid conduit configured to receive a flow of the second fluid. The second fluid conduit extends into the first fluid conduit in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow within the first fluid conduit, and has an opening for introducing the second fluid into the first fluid conduit. Related processes for producing nanoparticles are disclosed.

Integrated liquid fuel catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reformer and fuel cell systems can include a plurality or an array of spaced-apart CPOX reactor units, each reactor unit including an elongate tube having a gas-permeable wall with internal and external surfaces, the wall enclosing an open gaseous flow passageway with at least a portion of the wall having CPOX catalyst disposed therein and/or comprising its structure. The catalyst-containing wall structure and open gaseous flow passageway enclosed thereby define a gaseous phase CPOX reaction zone, the catalyst-containing wall section being gas-permeable to allow gaseous CPOX reaction mixture to diffuse therein and hydrogen rich product reformate to diffuse therefrom. The liquid fuel CPOX reformer also can include a vaporizer, one or more igniters, and a source of liquid reformable fuel. The hydrogen-rich reformate can be converted to electricity within a fuel cell unit integrated with the liquid fuel CPOX reactor unit.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an alkanesulfonic acid by oxidation of a sulfur containing starting compound with an oxygen containing fluid, wherein the sulfur containing starting compound is provided in a reaction system, comprising a reaction vessel (1) with an expansion vessel (2) on its top, wherein the reaction vessel and the expansion vessel are connected to allow a flow of a fluid stream from the reaction vessel into the expansion vessel.

Integrated systems are provided for the production of higher hydrocarbon compositions, for example liquid hydrocarbon compositions, from methane using an oxidative coupling of methane system to convert methane to ethylene, followed by conversion of ethylene to selectable higher hydrocarbon products. Integrated systems and processes are provided that process methane through to these higher hydrocarbon products.