A fluid flow conduit according to one embodiment comprises: a body comprising a channel-defining surface which defines a principal flow channel extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein the body defines an interior flow region comprising the principal flow channel; an inlet for introducing fluid into the interior flow region, the inlet shaped so that an average velocity of fluid entering the interior flow region from the inlet is oriented in an inlet flow direction non-parallel to the longitudinal direction; and an outlet for conveying fluid out of the principal flow channel, the outlet spaced apart from the inlet in the longitudinal direction such that fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet passes through at least a portion of the principal flow channel; wherein the fluid flow conduit defines a recess in the interior flow region and facing the inlet.

The present invention provides a highly effective method of continuous reactions in a heat exchanger reactor using a flexible turbulator (2). The flexible turbulator (2) present in the tube of the reactor assembly provides efficient mixing and reaction of the reactants in the reactor. The tube and shell assembly provides better heat transfer by transfer of heat through the temperature gradient across the tube (3) wall. The shell fluid (8) can be cold or hot as required depending on whether the reaction is exothermic or endothermic. The reactants are passed through the inlet (6) and allowed to mix and react in the tube (3), the mixing and reaction is facilitated by flexible turbulator and the final product is received through the outlet. The process can be repeated to achieve desired final product. Progress of the reaction is measured by thermal sensors present inside the reactor. The data is processed through a highly specialized computer software and output about progress of reaction is monitored.

Systems and methods are provided for improving the operation of groups of reverse flow reactors by operating reactors in a regeneration portion of the reaction cycle to have improved flue gas management. The flue gas from reactor(s) at a later portion of the regeneration step can be selectively used for recycle back to the reactors as a diluent/heat transport fluid. The flue gas from a reactor earlier in a regeneration step can be preferentially used as the gas vented from the system to maintain the desired volume of gas within the system. This results in preferential use of higher temperature flue gas for recycle and lower temperature flue gas for venting from the system. This improved use of flue gas within a reaction system including reverse flow reactors can allow for improved reaction performance while reducing or minimizing heat losses during the regeneration portion of the reaction cycle.

Methods related generally to the removal of atmospheric pollutants from the gas phase, are provided, as well as related apparatus, processes and uses thereof. A single-stage air scrubbing apparatus is provided that includes at least one reaction vessel, at least one introduction duct, and a turbulence component, wherein a residence time is sufficient to allow the conversion of at least one atmospheric pollution compound to at least one other compound, molecule or atom. In some embodiments, the at least one atmospheric pollution compound comprises nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide or a combination thereof. Additionally, methods of removing atmospheric pollution compounds from a waste gas stream are disclosed that include introducing a waste gas stream and at least one additional gas stream, mist stream, liquid stream or combination thereof into a single-stage air scrubbing apparatus at a flow rate sufficient to allow for conversion of the at least one atmospheric pollution compound.

A method for thermal cracking of a hydrocarbon to produce hydrogen gas and carbon comprises heating a molten medium to an operating temperature sufficient to thermally crack the hydrocarbon. The operating temperature may, for example be in the range of 600° C. to 1100° C. The method mixes the hydrocarbon into the heated molten medium and pumping the mixed molten medium and hydrocarbon through a reactor. In the reactor, the hydrocarbon undergoes a thermal cracking reaction which forms hydrogen gas and carbon black. The method separates the carbon and hydrogen gas from the molten medium that has passed through the reactor. In some embodiments, the flow of the molten medium in the reactor is a turbulent flow.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of this gas processing system.

A process plant and a process for production of sulfur from a feedstock gas including from 15% to 100 vol % H.sub.2S and a stream of sulfuric acid, the process including a) providing a Claus reaction furnace feed stream with a substoichiometric amount of oxygen, b) directing to a Claus reaction furnace operating at elevated temperature, c) cooling to provide a cooled Claus converter feed gas, d) directing to contact a material catalytically active in the Claus reaction, e) withdrawing a Claus tail gas and elementary sulfur, f) directing a stream comprising said Claus tail gas to a Claus tail gas treatment, wherein sulfuric acid directed to said Claus reaction furnace is in the form of droplets with 90% of the mass of the droplets having a diameter below 500 μm, with the associated benefit of such a process efficiently converting all liquid H.sub.2SO.sub.4 to gaseous H.sub.2SO.sub.4 and further to SO.sub.2.

A process for preparing a powder support containing alumina and silica or their derivatives for a catalyst of a Fischer-Tropsch type reaction, including stage (a) of preparing a first reactant containing an alumina compound or precursor including a reaction for peptization of an alumina compound or precursor in the presence of an acid, to form solid particles in suspension, stage (b) of preparing a second reactant based on silicic acid and/or on a compound or precursor of silicic acid, including a controlled aging treatment of the silicic acid targeted at its polymerization up to a degree of conversion of the silicic acid of at most 70%, stage (c) of mixing the two reactants in a mixer, and the pH of the first reactant is adjusted to a value not exceeding a given maximum pH threshold.

A continuous flow reactor without any moving parts to facilitate solid-liquid reaction without clogging is disclosed herein. It comprises plurality of identical cavities in series/sequence, each cavity being provided with: a pair of inlets at the top to allow entry of reactants into the reactor; an outlet at the bottom to allow the reactants to the next cavity for mixing; and a jacket covering around the cavities to provide heating or cooling effect as per the requirement. The outlet of the previous cavity is inclined at a suitable angle relative to the outlet of the next cavity to prevent clogging and facilitate efficient mixing of the reactants.

The invention relates to a device consisting of a reactor facility for the electrolytic treatment, with relation to flow dynamics, of fluid or gaseous media or mixtures of the two. In the context of this invention, electrolytic treatment with relation to flow dynamics means the combination of the production of at least one rotating fluid eddy and the eversion of the eddy by means of electrolysis taking place in the reactor facility. The guided fluid eddy is efficiently treated, cleaned and disinfected by this combination in the reactor facility according to the invention. The invention further relates to a method for the electrolytic treatment, with relation to flow dynamics, of fluid media in the reactor facility according to the invention.