The invention relates to hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to equipment and materials useful for hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon pyrolysis, and to the use of hydrocarbon pyrolysis for, e.g., hydrocarbon gas upgrading. The pyrolysis is carried out in a reactor which includes at least one thermal mass having an open frontal area 55%.

The invention relates to hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to equipment and materials useful for hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon pyrolysis, and to the use of hydrocarbon pyrolysis for, e.g., hydrocarbon upgrading.

The invention relates to hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to equipment and materials useful for hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon pyrolysis, and to the use of hydrocarbon pyrolysis for, e.g., hydrocarbon upgrading.

The invention relates to hydrocarbon conversion, to equipment and materials useful for hydrocarbon conversion, and to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon conversion, e.g., hydrocarbon pyrolysis processes. The hydrocarbon conversion is carried out in a reactor which includes at least one channeled member that comprises refractory and has an open frontal area 55%. The refractory can include non-oxide ceramic.

The invention relates to the compression of a pyrolysis product to facilitate light olefin separation. The pyrolysis product is produced in a pyrolysis reaction. A power generator produces a first shaft power and a second shaft power. The pyrolysis product is compressed using at least part of the first shaft power and at least part of the second shaft power.

The invention relates to the compression of a pyrolysis product to facilitate light olefin separation. The pyrolysis product is produced in a pyrolysis reaction. A power generator produces a first shaft power and a second shaft power. The pyrolysis product is compressed using at least part of the first shaft power and at least part of the second shaft power.

The invention relates to hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to equipment and materials useful for hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon pyrolysis, and to the use of hydrocarbon pyrolysis for. e.g., natural gas upgrading. The pyrolysis can be carried out in a reverse-flow reactor.

The invention relates to approach temperatures and approach temperature ranges that are beneficial in operating a pyrolysis reactor, to pyrolysis reactors exhibiting a beneficial approach temperature, to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon pyrolysis in a pyrolysis reactor having a beneficial approach temperature. The pyrolysis reactor can be, e.g., a reverse-flow pyrolysis reactor, such as a regenerative reverse-flow pyrolysis reactor.

The invention relates to approach temperatures and approach temperature ranges that are beneficial in operating a pyrolysis reactor, to pyrolysis reactors exhibiting a beneficial approach temperature, to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon pyrolysis in a pyrolysis reactor having a beneficial approach temperature. The pyrolysis reactor can be, e.g., a reverse-flow pyrolysis reactor, such as a regenerative reverse-flow pyrolysis reactor.

In one aspect, the invention includes a reactor apparatus for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock, the apparatus including: a reactor component comprising a refractory material in oxide form, the refractory material having a melting point of at least 2060 C. and which remains in oxide form when exposed to a gas having an oxygen partial pressure of 10.sup.15 bar, a carbon partial pressure above the carbon partial pressure of the zirconium carbide and zirconium oxide phase transition at the same temperature, and at temperatures below the temperature of the zirconium triple point at the oxygen partial pressure of 10.sup.15 bar; and ii) when exposed to a gas having an oxygen partial pressure of 10.sup.15 bar and at temperatures above the zirconium triple point at the oxygen partial pressure of 10.sup.15 bar. In some embodiments, the reactor comprises a regenerative pyrolysis reactor apparatus and in other embodiments it includes a reverse flow regenerative reactor apparatus. In other aspects, this invention includes a method for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock using a pyrolysis reactor system comprising the step of providing in a heated region of a pyrolysis reactor system for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock, apparatus comprising the above refractory material.