A multi-bed catalytic reactor, particularly for the synthesis of ammonia, wherein the beds have an annular shape, the first bed has L(1)*(V/V(1)) equal to or greater than 50 wherein L(1) is the slenderness ratio of the first bed which is calculated as the axial length over the radial width; V is the total volume of the beds of the reactor and V(1) is the volume of the first bed.

A multi-bed ammonia converter comprising a plurality of catalytic beds for converting an input makeup gas into an ammonia-containing product gas comprising a recovery heat exchanger such as a steam superheater or a boiler which is integrated in the ammonia converter and can be partially accommodated in the cavity of an annular bed.

The present invention relates to a process for starting up a reactor for preparation of phthalic anhydride by the catalytic oxidation of ortho-xylene and/or naphthalene, containing a bed of shaped catalyst bodies and within a temperature-controlled salt bath. The industrial production of phthalic anhydride from ortho-xylene and/or naphthalene is affected by selective gas phase oxidation in a shell and tube reactor cooled with a salt bath, which may contain several thousand reactor tubes. There are 4 to 5 different catalyst layers in each reactor, which are introduced into each reactor successively in axial direction.

In a method for cooling of process gas between catalytic layers or beds in a sulfuric acid plant, in which sulfuric acid is produced from feed gases containing sulfurous components like SO.sub.2, H.sub.2S, CS.sub.2 and COS or liquid feeds like molten sulfur or spent sulfuric acid, one or more boilers, especially water tube boilers, are used instead of conventional steam superheaters to cool the process gas between the catalytic beds in the SO.sub.2 converter of the plant. Thereby a less complicated and more cost efficient heat exchanger layout is obtained.

Methods and systems for treating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated in a hydrocarbon treating process are disclosed. An effluent stream containing the VOCs, as well as carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) is combined with hot exhaust gas from a turbine and provided to a waste heat recovery unit (WHRU). The WHRU is adapted to contain a catalyst bed containing oxidation catalyst capable of effecting the oxidation of the VOCs. The temperature of the catalyzing reaction can be tailored based on the position of the catalyst bed within the temperature gradient of the WHRU. The methods and systems described herein solve the problem of effecting the removal of VOCs from the effluent. Heating the CO.sub.2-containing effluent in the WHRU also lend buoyancy to the effluent, thereby facilitating its dispersal upon release.

A product gas manifold system for a steam reformer is provided. The product gas manifold system includes a product gas manifold including an outer jacket tube and a gas-conveying inner tube extending concentrically and coaxially over its entire length, a space between the inner and jacket tubes being at least partially filled with a first insulating material, a plurality of nozzle tubes, each for connecting a reformer tube to the product gas manifold, a second insulating material disposed around the jacket tube, a curved outer surface outwardly limiting the second layer of the second insulating material and following the shape of the jacket tube in the axial direction.

A process and apparatus for indirect heating of catalyst in the regeneration zone is disclosed. A hot flue gas flows within a heating tube and the catalyst to be heated flows outside the heating tube. The hot flue gas is generated by igniting a fuel stream. The hot flue gas is generated directly in the heating tube or is generated in a separate burner outside the heating tube.

To prevent solidified aluminum chloride from adhering to and accumulating on a pipe and also prevent stress-corrosion cracking in the pipe, a method for producing trichlorosilane includes a cooling step of cooling a discharge gas that is discharged from a fluidized-bed reactor and that contains the trichlorosilane, the cooling step involving causing a fluid to flow through a space (4) inside a side wall (3) of a pipe (10), the pipe being a pipe for discharging the discharge gas from the fluidized-bed reactor, in such a manner that the side wall (3) has a surface (1a) having a temperature of not lower than 110° C.

The present invention describes a processes, systems, and catalysts for the utilization of carbon dioxide into high quality synthesis gas that can then be used to produce fuels (e.g., diesel fuel) and chemicals. In one aspect, the present invention provides a process for the conversion of a feed gas comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen to a product gas comprising carbon monoxide and water.

The present invention relates to a combustion heater (100) for providing controlled heat (H) to an endothermic reaction process. The combustion heater comprises an integrated burner (20) to yield a hot burner exhaust gas (35) flow from burning a first fuel. The burner exhaust gas mixed with oxidant flows to a flue gas outlet along a flue gas flow path (FGP). Provided to the combustion chamber at a position outside a direct reach of flames from the burner is a secondary fuel conduit (30) with a plurality of nozzles (31) from which a second fuel (32) is transferred into a flow along the said flue gas flow path (FGP). The resulting combustion of the second fuel can be used to provide controlled heat to the to endothermic reaction operated in a reaction conduit (40) that is in thermal heat exchange with the combustion chamber.