The present invention relates to a reactor for production of synthesis gas that optionally has a fluid-tight connection to a heat exchanger, and to a process for producing synthesis gas, preferably under high pressure.

A structured catalyst for catalyzing an endothermic reaction of a feed gas to convert it to a product gas is provided.

This monolithic reactor is an adaptable and scalable, flow-through reaction containment apparatus embodied as a one-piece monolithic block of material that retains re-configurability to improve reaction processing. This apparatus increases operational flexibility, adaptable design, and vastly simplifies construction of tubular reaction-containment configurations. Internally, the monolithic block comprises one or more closely spaced, functional voids which operate as fluid channels that can be configured in various geometric arrangements. The apparatus is widely scalable, provides high thermodynamic efficiency, manufacturing simplicity, and affordability for varied operations through additive manufacturing, and has a compact physical footprint.

A heat conducting insert for a reactor includes an elongated center portion, a cross member extending outwardly from the center portion and an outer portion extending laterally from a distal end of the cross member. A reactor includes a shell and an insert in the shell. The insert includes an elongated center portion, a cross member extending outwardly from the center portion, and an outer portion extending laterally from a distal end of the cross member.

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.