A multi-structured tubular element for producing a reactor for effecting exothermic/endothermic chemical reactions, comprises two or more monolithic thermoconductive bodies, assembled together so that each has a part of the side surface interfaced with the side surface of one or more monolithic thermoconductive bodies adjacent thereto, so as to form as a whole, a honeycomb structure containing a plurality of longitudinal channels extending from one end to the other of said tubular element, suitable for being filled with a granular catalytic solid.

A reactor having a shell comprising: one or more reactor tubes located within the shell, said reactor tube or tubes comprising a plurality of catalyst receptacles containing catalyst; means for providing a heat transfer fluid to the reactor shell such that the heat transfer fluid contacts the tube or tubes; an inlet for providing reactants to the reactor tubes; and an outlet for recovering products from the reactor tubes; wherein the plurality of catalyst receptacles containing catalyst within a tube comprises catalyst receptacles containing catalyst of at least two configurations.

Described herein are expandable center arrangements for use in a tubular reactor, such as a reformer, for enhancing heat transfer and reactor efficiency. The expandable center arrangement can include a cone being expandable in the radial direction and an expansion weight for promoting expansion of the cone. The cone and expansion weight can be slidably arranged on a center support. Expansion of the cones in the radial direction forces reactor components radially outward to an outer tube that houses the reactor components and expandable center arrangement. Expansion of reactor components towards the outer tube promotes heat for carrying out catalytic reactions.

A reactor system and a process for carrying out the ammonia cracking reaction of a feed gas comprising ammonia to hydrogen are provided, where the heat for the endothermic ammonia cracking reaction is provided by resistance heating.

A method is proposed for installing monoliths (2) each formed of a ceramic block having a multiplicity of mutually parallel channels wherethrough the reaction gas mixture of a heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase reaction can flow in a reactor (1) for conducting heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase reactions, wherein said monoliths (2) are stacked side by side and on top of each other in the reactor interior, wherein the monoliths are sealed off from each other and from the inner wall of said reactor (1) by mats (3) each comprising an intumescent mat which before installation in said reactor (1) were completely enveloped in a polymeric film, wherein the interior enclosed by the polymeric film and containing said mat (3) is evacuated and wherein the interior enclosed by the polymeric film and containing said mat (3) is devacuated after installation in said reactor (1).

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 reactor system and a process for carrying out the reaction of a feed gas comprising an alkane such as methane, and ammonia to hydrogen cyanide and/or a nitrile are provided, where the heat for the endothermic reaction is provided by resistance heating. In particular, the reaction is the BMA (Blausure aus Methan und Ammoniak) reaction.

A reactor system and a process for carrying out the methanol cracking reaction of a feedstock comprising methanol to hydrogen are provided, where the heat for the endothermic methanol cracking reaction is provided by resistance heating.

A reactor system and a process for carrying out the methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction of a feedstock comprising methanol to synthesis gas are provided, where the heat for the endothermic methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction is provided by resistance heating.

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.