A highly compact heat integrated fuel processor, which can be used for the production of hydrogen from a fuel source, suitable to feed a fuel cell, is described. The fuel processor assembly comprises a catalytic reforming zone (29) and a catalytic combustion zone (28), separated by a wall (27). Catalyst able to induce the reforming reactions is placed in the reforming zone and catalyst able to induce the combustion reaction is placed in the combustion zone, both in the form of coating on a suitable structured substrate, in the form of a metal monolith. FeCrAlY steel foils, in corrugated form so as to enhance the available area for reaction, can be used as suitable substrates. The reforming and the combustion zones can be either in rectangular shape, forming a stack with alternating combustion/reforming zones or in cylindrical shape forming annular sections with alternating combustion/reforming zones, in close contact to each other. The close placement of the combustion and reforming catalyst facilitate efficient heat transfer through the wall which separates the reforming and combustion chambers.

A highly compact heat integrated fuel processor, which can be used for the production of hydrogen from a fuel source, suitable to feed a fuel cell, is described. The fuel processor assembly comprises a catalytic reforming zone (29) and a catalytic combustion zone (28), separated by a wall (27). Catalyst able to induce the reforming reactions is placed in the reforming zone and catalyst able to induce the combustion reaction is placed in the combustion zone, both in the form of coating on a suitable structured substrate, in the form of a metal monolith. FeCrAlY steel foils, in corrugated form so as to enhance the available area for reaction, can be used as suitable substrates. The reforming and the combustion zones can be either in rectangular shape, forming a stack with alternating combustion/reforming zones or in cylindrical shape forming annular sections with alternating combustion/reforming zones, in close contact to each other. The close placement of the combustion and reforming catalyst facilitate efficient heat transfer through the wall which separates the reforming and combustion chambers.

Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels. The reactor assemblies can also provide where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Other implementations provide for at least one of the first set of fluid channels being in thermal contact with a plurality of other channels of the second set of fluid channels. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels. Processes for distributing energy across a reactor are provided. The processes can include transporting reactants via a first set of fluid channels to a second set of fluid channels, and thermally engaging at least one of the first set of fluid channels with at least two of the second set of fluid channels.

A reactor includes: a heat exchange body including a heat medium channel through which the heat medium flows and a reaction channel through which the reaction fluid flows; at least one structured catalyst supporting a catalyst for promoting the reaction of the reaction fluid and removably installed in the reaction channel; and a holding member including an extending part extending in a direction conforming to an extending direction of the reaction channel and capable of engaging with the at least one structured catalyst, and regulating parts provided in the extending part to regulate a movement of the at least one structured catalyst in the extending direction of the extending part, wherein the holding member is inserted and removed with respect to the reaction channel while holding the structured catalyst.

A reactor includes: a main reactor core including main reaction flow channels through which the raw material fluid flows, and main temperature control flow channels through which the heat medium flows along a flow direction of the raw material fluid flowing in the main reaction flow channel; and a pre-reactor core including pre-reaction flow channels of which an outlet side connects with an inlet side of the main reaction flow channels and through which the raw material fluid flows, and pre-temperature control flow channels of which an inlet side connects with an outlet side of the main reaction flow channels and through which the product serving as the heat medium flows along a flow direction of the raw material fluid flowing in the pre-reaction flow channel.

A reactor includes: a main reactor core including main reaction flow channels through which the raw material fluid flows, and main temperature control flow channels through which the heat medium flows along a flow direction of the raw material fluid flowing in the main reaction flow channel; and a pre-reactor core including pre-reaction flow channels of which an outlet side connects with an inlet side of the main reaction flow channels and through which the raw material fluid flows, and pre-temperature control flow channels of which an inlet side connects with an outlet side of the main reaction flow channels and through which the product serving as the heat medium flows along a flow direction of the raw material fluid flowing in the pre-reaction flow channel.

A reactor includes a reaction unit, a first pipe, a second pipe, a composition analysis unit connected to the first pipe, a regulating unit connected to the second pipe so as to regulate a flow rate or the like of a second fluid, a control unit causing the regulating unit to regulate the flow rate or the like of the second fluid in accordance with a composition of a product analyzed by the composition analysis unit so that a temperature of a third fluid is controlled to lead the composition of the product to keep a predetermined reaction rate or yield, and a first temperature measurement unit connected to the first pipe so as to measure the temperature of the third fluid. The control unit acquires the information on the temperature of the third fluid from the first temperature measurement unit.

Heat exchanger-reformer for use in a hydrogen production plant for producing syngas, for instance by means of a steam methane reforming method, wherein the reformer comprises vessel with a first inlet for supplying feed and a second inlet for supplying hot reformer effluent, preferably coming from a main steam methane reformer, wherein the heat exchanger-reformer further comprises a heat exchanging section that is arranged in fluid connection with the first and second inlets for exchanging heat between the feed and reformer effluent to effectuate steam reforming of hydrocarbon to produce syngas, wherein the heat exchanging section comprises a plate heat exchanger assembly for heat exchange between said feed and said reformer effluent.

The present invention relates to an apparatus of manufacturing an aerogel sheet. The apparatus of manufacturing the aerogel sheet includes: a plurality of fixing vessels into which a fiber sheet is inserted; and an impregnation vessels provided with an accommodation part in which the plurality of fixing vessels are stacked in multistage and a silica precursor injection part which injects a silica precursor into the accommodation part to impregnate the silica precursor into the fiber sheet inserted into each of the fixing vessels.

The invention relates to a methanol synthesis reactor for producing methanol from a synthesis gas mixture. The reactor according to the invention includes a pressure jacket having an interior in which a first and a second process unit are arranged one atop the other. Both process units are fluidically interconnected at least in respect of the process gases and configured as plate heat exchangers, preferably pillow plate heat exchangers. The plate interiors are traversable from bottom to top by cooling media while the plate interspaces are traversable from top to bottom by process gases, in particular synthesis gas and methanol-containing product streams. At least the first of the two process units has a methanol synthesis catalyst on the plate interspace side. The second process unit is used for cooling or further conversion of the product stream obtainable in the first process unit.