A catalytic reactor is provided comprising a plurality of first flow channels including a catalyst for a first reaction; a plurality of second flow channels arranged alternately with the first flow channels; adjacent first and second flow channels being separated by a divider plate (13a, 13b), and a distributed temperature sensor such as an optical fiber cable (19). The distributed temperature sensor may be located within the divider plate, or within one or 10 more of the flow 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 reformer unit and high temperature, pressure, or both variable orifice flow controller is provided. The reformer unit may have a reforming section, a heat exchanging section, and a bypass section. The bypass section provides a flow path for the hydrocarbon-containing fuel around the reforming section and has a variable orifice flow controller positioned in the bypassing flow path.

A catalytic reactor (22) comprising a central axis (A) and a stack of catalytically active sheets (10), wherein the catalytically active sheets (10) are stacked in the axial direction. Each of the catalytically active sheets (10) comprises a central opening (17) and at least some of the catalytically active sheets (10) comprise an axially extending flange (18) arranged at least partially around said central opening (17), wherein the flange (18) of one catalytically active sheet (10) extends into the central opening (17) of an adjacent catalytically active sheet (10). Disclosed is also a method for providing a catalytic reaction.

A reactor for efficient control of endothermic and exothermic catalytic reactions, including, for example, Fischer Tropsch reactions. Also disclosed are methods of delivering coolant materials and gasification source materials to the reactor.

The reactor has a heat exchanging body which includes therein a heat medium flow channel in which heat medium fluid is caused to flow, a reaction flow channel in which a reaction fluid containing a first reactant (and a second reactant) is caused to flow, and a supplement channel for supplying a second reactant at an intermediate portion of the reaction flow channel. A catalyst is provided in the reaction flow channel and promotes the reaction in the reaction fluid. The heat exchanging body has a plurality of holes through which the supplement channel communicates with the reaction flow channel. Steam reforming can be performed using water vapor and hydrocarbon as the first and second reactants.

A reactor has a heat exchanging body including therein a heat medium flow channel in which heat medium flows, and a reaction flow channel in which a reaction fluid flows, to exchange heat between the heat medium and the reaction fluid. A heat transfer promoter is provided in the heat medium flow channel and comes in close contact with the heat exchanging body to promote heat transfer between the heat medium and the heat exchanging body. The heat transfer promoter is an assembly of partial heat transfer promoters of a plurality of types. Replacing the partial heat transfer promoter with another type one, temperature distribution in the heat exchanging body is adjusted.

An expandable center arrangement for a reactor is disclosed. The arrangement comprises an expansion tube; a center support inside the expansion tube and three or more spring elements. The spring elements are fastened to the center support and arc out to the expansion tube. A reactor is also disclosed.

A reactor has a heat exchanging body having a heat medium flow channel that a heat medium fluid flows and a reaction flow channel that a reaction fluid flow, and at least one detection part for detecting temperature of a fluid in one or both of the heat medium flow channel and the reaction flow channel. At least one installation hole extends in a skew position to the flow channel and includes an opening portion communicating with the flow channel. The detection part is installed at the opening portion and contacts the flowing fluid. At least one fluid guide hole is formed along the flow channel from the opening portion of the installation hole.

A combined reformer and purifier for converting a hydrogen-rich feedstock into purified hydrogen is described. The combined reformer and purifier can include at least one compression plate as an assembly comprising at least one first cavity comprising a catalyst effective to liberate hydrogen from said hydrogen-rich feedstock and forming a hydrogen-rich mixed gas. The compression plate assembly can also include at least one second cavity enclosing a burner or oxidative catalytic reactor to oxidize said hydrogen-depleted raffinate or said hydrogen-rich feedstock to supply heat to the at least one first cavity containing said catalyst. The compression plate assembly can also include an interior surface proximal to said membrane and an exterior surface distal to said membrane. The compression plate assembly can also include a third cavity effective to preheat said hydrogen-rich feedstock prior to being delivered to said catalyst.