The invention relates to a virtual sensing method and system for controlling at least one composition variable in a urea production process, based on a plurality of online measured process variables and a model, wherein the model is used to estimate, during the urea production process, the at least one composition variable indicative of a urea content on the basis of the plurality of online measured process variables, and modifying at least one of the plurality of online measured process variables for ensuring that a value of the at least one composition variable is within a predetermined range. The invention also relates to determining the model.

Techniques regarding the synthesis of polyesters and/or polycarbonates through one or more ring-opening polymerizations conducted within a flow reactor and facilitated by a urea anion catalyst and/or a thiourea catalyst are provided. For example, one or more embodiments can comprise a method, which can comprise polymerizing, via a ring-opening polymerization within a flow reactor, a cyclic monomer in the presence an organocatalyst comprising a urea anion.

A method of controlling particle additions to a fluidized bed reactor includes measuring pressure fluctuations inside the fluidized bed reactor over a selected time period, determining a pressure parameter indicative of amplitudes of the pressure fluctuations, comparing the pressure parameter to a specified threshold, and controlling particle additions to the fluidized bed reactor when the pressure parameter deviates from the specified threshold.

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.

Useful apparatus for generating a gas, comprising an enclosure defining an internal space for containing a liquid capable of generating the gas by coming into contact with a catalyst, a catalytic system comprising first and second parts that together define a catalysis chamber for containing the catalyst and that are movable relative to each other between a closed position, in which the catalysis chamber is isolated from the internal space, and an open position, in which the catalysis chamber is in fluid communication with the internal space, so that, when the liquid and the catalyst are respectively contained in the internal space and in the catalysis chamber, in the open position, the liquid enters the catalysis chamber and the gas is generated by bringing the liquid into contact with the catalyst, an actuator connected to the catalytic system and configured to place the catalytic system in the open position and/or in the closed position, and a command unit for commanding the actuator.

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.

A waterless decarboxylation device used to decarboxylate cannabis is described. For example, the device could include a product container to contain an amount of raw cannabis plant material, a heating container configured to surround and contact the product container, a heater in contact with the heating container, a foam layer surrounding the product container and heating container, at least one sensor configured to detect the temperature of the heating container, a lid that encloses the product container and fluidly seals it from the environment, and a controller configured to control power to the heater in response to signals sent from the at least one sensor indicating whether the heating container has reached a threshold temperature.

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.

A reformer includes at least one reformer reactor unit (300) having a space-confining wall with external (307) and internal surfaces (306), at least a section of the wall and space confined thereby defining a reforming reaction zone (311), an inlet end (301) and associated inlet (302) for admission of flow of gaseous reforming reactant to the reforming reaction zone (311), an outlet end (303) and associated outlet (304) for outflow of hydrogen-rich reformate produced in the reforming reaction zone (311), at least that section of the wall (305) corresponding to the reforming reaction zone comprising perovskite as a structural component thereof such wall section being gas-permeable to allow gaseous reforming reactant to diffuse therein and hydrogen-rich reformate to diffuse therefrom.

A liquid fuel reformer includes a fuel vaporizer which utilizes heat from an upstream source of heat, specifically, an electric heater, operable in the start-up mode of the reformer, and therefore independent of the reforming reaction zone of the reformer, to vaporize fuel in a downstream vaporization zone.