Disclosed is a process for the catalytic thermal decomposition of ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen by contacting ammonia at a temperature of at least 500 C. with a porous ceramic layer which comprises nickel. Also disclosed is a reactor for carrying out the process.

Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a chemical reactor comprising a mixing zone comprising first static mixer and a second static mixer both arranged in shell of the reactor, wherein the second static mixer is positioned further from said first inlet than said first static mixer, wherein the second static mixer is adapted for more intimate mixing of fluids in the reaction mixture than the first static mixer.

Horizontal reactor (1) for catalytic reactions, comprising an outer cylindrical shell (2), a catalytic bed (5) and heat exchange plates (6) immersed in said catalytic bed, parallel to each other and supplied with a heat exchange fluid; said reactor comprises a container (7) for said catalytic bed (5) and said plates (6), said container is extractable slidably from said shell, by means of at least one linear guide (31, 32, 45) extended longitudinally with respect to said shell (2).

A reactor device for the release of a gas from a starting material includes a reactor housing having a longitudinal axis and at least one single reactor arranged in the reactor housing, the single reactor including a base plate oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis, a starting material flow channel defining a starting material flow direction, a catalyst arranged in the starting material flow channel, a heating unit for heating the catalyst and/or the starting material and a gas collection chamber arranged above the starting material flow channel for collecting the gas released from the starting material.

A reformer includes a reforming chamber having a raw fuel passage through which a raw fuel flows, the reforming chamber being filled with or carrying a reforming catalyst, a supply chamber disposed upstream of the reforming chamber, for uniformly supplying the raw fuel to the raw fuel passage, and a discharge chamber disposed downstream of the reforming chamber, for uniformly discharging the raw fuel from the raw fuel passage. The raw fuel passage has first and second reversers for reversing the direction in which the raw fuel flows. The raw fuel passage has a cross-sectional area which is smaller in a downstream portion thereof than in an upstream portion thereof.

A multiple adiabatic bed reforming apparatus and process are disclosed in which stage-wise combustion, in combination with multiple reforming chambers with catalyst, utilize co-flow and cross-flow under laminar flow conditions, to provide a reformer suitable for smaller production situations as well as large scale production. A passive stage by stage fuel distribution network suitable for low pressure fuel is incorporated and the resistances in successive fuel distribution lines control the amount of fuel delivered to each combustion stage.

This heat exchanger (100) includes a core portion (1), a header portion (2), and an intermediate member (3), and the curvature radius of a corner (31a to 31d) of the intermediate member is configured to be smaller than the curvature radius at a header portion side.

A tubular reactor includes a bed of catalytic powder confined within an annular space, a hollow insert having a distribution chamber and a collection chamber, and a second wall comprising at least one distributing opening and at least one collecting opening. The reactor has at least one filtering element positioned at the at least one collecting opening and at the at least one distributing opening, preventing the passage of catalytic powder from the annular space to the at least one collection chamber and distribution chamber, and bearing against the outer surface of the second wall and covering the at least one collecting opening and distributing opening and/or being housed inside the at least one collecting opening and distributing opening.

A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, an evaporator for evaporating a mixture of methanol and water to be forwarded through a catalytic reformer for producing portions of free hydrogen. The fuel cell stack being composed of a number of proton exchange membrane fuel cells each featuring electrodes in form of an anode and a cathode for delivering an electric current. The system provides an enhanced catalytic reformer for a fuel cell system, which enables a compact design of the reformer for integration into a flat, rack mountable system.

Horizontal reactor (1) for catalytic reactions, comprising an outer cylindrical shell (2), a catalytic bed (5) and heat exchange plates (6) immersed in said catalytic bed, parallel to each other and supplied with a heat exchange fluid; said reactor comprises a container (7) for said catalytic bed (5) and said plates (6), said container is extractable slidably from said shell, by means of at least one linear guide (31, 32, 45) extended longitudinally with respect to said shell (2).