The invention relates to a process for converting hydrocarbons into unsaturated products such as acetylene and/or ethylene. The invention also relates to converting acetylene to olefins such as ethylene and/or propylene, to polymerizing the olefins, and to equipment useful for these processes.

A method for generating a hybrid reaction flows feedstock gas that is also a plasma medium through microchannels. Plasma is generated with the plasma medium via excitation with a time-varying voltage. UV or VUV emissions are generated at a wavelength selected to break a chemical bond in the feedstock gas. The UV or VUV emissions are directed into the microchannels to interact with the plasma medium and generate a reaction product from the plasma medium. A hybrid reactor device includes a microchannel plasma array having inlets and outlets for respectively flowing gas feedstock into and reaction product out of the microchannel plasma array. A UV or VUV emission lamp has its emissions directed into microchannels of the microchannel plasma array. Electrodes ignite plasma in the microchannels and stimulating the UV or VUV emission lamp to generate UV or VUV emissions. One common or plural phased time-varying voltage sources drive the plasma array and the UV or VUV emission lamp.

A structured body for heating system for carrying out heating of a pressurized feed gas is provided, where the heat is provided by resistance heating by means of electrical power.

The present invention relates to vortex reactors, articles comprising vortex reactors, and processes of making and using vortex reactors as well as articles comprising vortex reactors. Such vortex reactors comprise vortex tube and a vortex tube inner component that catalyzes a desired reaction or cracking that surprisingly does not substantially increase vortex tube back pressure. Such vortex reactor provides a surprising and unexpected increase in reaction and cracking efficiencies and can be used for systems that are exothermic or endothermic.

Known methods for hydrothermal carbonization are very time intensive, as the carbonization reaction only proceeds gradually in the biomass used therefor. This is because of the different reaction conditions prevailing in different parts of the biomass. These also cause an inhomogeneous reaction product. To accelerate the method and to improve the result, the biomass is swirled inside the available reaction space with the aid of blower nozzles, which blow in the steam at a high speed so that the biomass is swirled. This ensures that the carbonization reaction can proceed uniformly and promptly after the biomass is introduced.

A carrier gas supplied from a carrier gas source is injected from a carrier gas injection nozzle. Also, a fuel including a hydrocarbon-based liquid and supplied from a fuel source is supplied to a tip end of the carrier gas injection nozzle, whereby this fuel is atomized with the carrier gas injected from the carrier gas injection nozzle. Furthermore, an inlet of a reforming part that decomposes the atomized fuel and reforms the atomized fuel into a reducing gas including either or both of hydrogen and an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon is provided so as to face the carrier gas injection nozzle and the fuel supply nozzle, and a reducing gas supply nozzle that supplies the reducing gas discharged from an outlet of the reforming part is provided in an exhaust pipe.

A reactor for gas-phase dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon-comprising stream with an oxygen-comprising stream over a monolithic heterogeneous catalyst. Catalytically active zone(s) comprising monoliths packed next to one another and/or above one another and a mixing zone having fixed internals upstream of each catalytically active zone. Feed line(s) for the hydrocarbon-comprising gas stream to be dehydrogenated at the lower end of the reactor. Independently regulable feed line(s), which supply distributor(s), for the oxygen-comprising gas stream into each of the mixing zones and discharge line(s) for the reaction gas mixture of the autothermal gas-phase dehydrogenation at the upper end of the reactor. The interior wall of the reactor is provided with insulation. The catalytically active zone(s) is accessible from the outside of the reactor via manhole(s). The catalytically active zone(s), mixing zone, independently regulable feed line(s), and distributor(s), may be designed as one component which can individually be mounted and removed.

A heat transfer insert configured to fin within FT reactor is disclosed. The insert includes a fin structure that defines a longitudinal void along a longitudinal central axis of the fin structure or insert. The fin structure defines a plurality of catalytic reaction zones and a space configured to receive a thermocouple. The central longitudinal axis of the insert, which is also the centerline of the longitudinal void, is not colinear with the longitudinal axis of the thermocouple space. An FT reactor may include the heat transfer insert and an FT system may include one or more FT reactors. Configurations herein allow for catalytic reaction temperatures to be measured within the reactor at a place other than the centerline of the FT reactor.

A method of fabricating a catalytic reactor assembly having an outer tube and an inner tube is provided. The method may include inserting a catalyst into the outer tube and inserting the inner tube through the catalyst. The method may further include radially expanding the inner tube against the catalyst.

A fuel generator and a method for generating fuel are disclosed in which a monolithic block includes a plurality of plates stacked and bonded together. A first input port and a second input port are disposed on the monolithic block. The first input port is coupled to a source of hydrogen gas and the second input port is coupled to a source of carbon dioxide or syngas. An output port is disposed on the monolithic block and is coupled to a fuel reservoir. The plurality of plates form a plurality of reaction regions. At least a portion of the plurality of reaction regions convert one of the carbon dioxide or syngas and hydrogen into a hydrocarbon fuel that is supplied from the output port.