A process and apparatus for converting an alkane to an olefin. In one embodiment, the process involves oxidative coupling of an alkane, e.g., methane, with an oxidant, such as air, to produce an olefin having twice the number of carbon atoms as the alkane, e.g., ethylene. In another embodiment, the process involves oxidative dehydrogenation of an alkane, e.g., ethane, with an oxidant to form an olefin having the same number of carbon atoms as the alkane, e.g., ethylene. The process involves passing a flow of the oxidant from a first flow passage through a porous medium; diffusing a flow of the alkane from a second flow passage into the porous medium; and contacting the reactant alkane and the oxidant in the presence of a catalyst within the porous medium to produce the olefin.

An apparatus includes an integrated heat exchanger and reactor module. The integrated heat exchanger and reactor module includes a heat exchanger channel, and a reactor channel which is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger channel. The reactor channel includes a layer of catalyst material that is configured to produce hydrogen by endothermic catalytic decomposition of ammonia, which flows through the reactor channel, using thermal energy that is absorbed by the reactor channel from the heat exchanger channel.

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. Fe—Cr—Al—Y 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 tubular reactor comprises a catalytic powder bed confined in an annular space delimited by an inner wall and an outer wall, the insert comprises a distribution chamber and a collection chamber, separated by at least one first partition wall, the distribution chamber comprising distribution compartments separated from one another by second partition walls, each distribution compartment and the collection chamber comprising, respectively, an intake opening and a discharge opening, the inner wall comprises distributing openings and a collecting opening, each distributing opening enabling the distribution of a gas towards the annular space, and the collecting opening enabling the collection of the gas distributed in the annular space by the collection chamber.

A dehydrogenation chemical reactor includes: a housing; a catalyst part made of a thermally conductive material and disposed in the housing, where the catalyst part has a panel shape, and a catalyst is coated on a surface of the catalyst part to separate hydrogen from an organic hydrogen carrier; a heat transfer pipe which is installed to contact the catalyst part, and conducts latent heat to the catalyst part while pressurized and saturated fluid is supplied therein; and an organic hydrogen carrier line which is connected to the housing to form a passage in which the organic hydrogen carrier is introduced into the housing, contacts the catalyst part to separate hydrogen, and then is discharged.

The present invention relates to processes and apparatus useful for (fast) ionic polymerisation of liquid monomer(s) containing reaction mixture for the production of the corresponding polymer(s).

A dehydrogenation chemical reactor includes: a housing; a catalyst part made of a thermally conductive material and disposed in the housing, where the catalyst part has a panel shape, and a catalyst is coated on a surface of the catalyst part to separate hydrogen from an organic hydrogen carrier; a heat transfer pipe which is installed to contact the catalyst part, and conducts latent heat to the catalyst part while pressurized and saturated fluid is supplied therein; and an organic hydrogen carrier line which is connected to the housing to form a passage in which the organic hydrogen carrier is introduced into the housing, contacts the catalyst part to separate hydrogen, and then is discharged.

A reactor includes first heat transfer bodies including reaction flow channels through which a reaction fluid flows, second heat transfer bodies stacked on the first heat transfer bodies and including heat medium flow channels through which a heat medium flows and product flow channels through which a product flows that is produced in the reaction flow channels by a heat exchange between the reaction fluid and the heat medium, and product communication parts including communication spaces through which the product flows from the reaction flow channels to the product flow channels.

A process and apparatus for converting an alkane to an olefin. In one embodiment, the process involves oxidative coupling of an alkane, e.g., methane, with an oxidant, such as air, to produce an olefin having twice the number of carbon atoms as the alkane, e.g., ethylene. In another embodiment, the process involves oxidative dehydrogenation of an alkane, e.g., ethane, with an oxidant to form an olefin having the same number of carbon atoms as the alkane, e.g., ethylene. The process involves passing a flow of the oxidant from a first flow passage through a porous medium; diffusing a flow of the alkane from a second flow passage into the porous medium; and contacting the reactant alkane and the oxidant in the presence of a catalyst within the porous medium to produce the olefin.

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. FeCrAIY 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.