A fluidized bed reactor for biomass treatment comprising a vessel extending in a first direction from a first end to a second end, an inlet at the first end of the vessel for feeding biomass particles into the vessel, an outlet at the second end of the vessel for outputting processed biomass, a first fluid inlet independently activatable to deliver a first volume of a gas in a second direction into a first region of the vessel, and a second fluid inlet spaced apart from the first fluid inlet in the first direction and independently activatable to deliver a second volume of the gas in the second direction into a second region of the vessel, the second region adjacent the first region.

Catalyst beds in refinery reactors require periodic change out due to build-up of contamination and loss of activity. The instant invention mists a liquid chemical solvent in nitrogen carrier gas to solubilize oils and heavy hydrocarbons and to further desorb light hydrocarbons and remove hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2S), to effect decontamination. This process can be advantageously combined with nitrogen cool-down processes in preparation for catalyst unloading.

A plant uses one or more renewable energy sources to facilitate the processing of a hydrocarbon to produce hydrogen, syngas or other products. One renewable energy source is solar energy, which may be harnessed by (a) directly heating a thermal storage medium by way of a concentrated solar thermal (CST) plant; (b) converting the solar energy using photovoltaic cells to produce electricity and using the electricity to heat the thermal storage medium, (c) a combination of both, or (d) converting the solar energy using photovoltaic cells to produce electricity and using the electricity to heat a reactor by way of resistive or inductive heating. The thermal storage medium, when used, is arranged to store enough thermal energy to enable 24-hours a day processing of the hydrocarbon. Electricity derived from PV cells may be used to enable the production of heat for processing when radiant energy from the sun is insufficient.

A method for manufacturing solketal ((2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methanol) includes: (1) milling starting reagents, including at least: glycerol, a catalyst selected from a hard Lewis acid including at least one transition metal, and acetone, the molar ratio (glycerol):(acetone) being less than or equal to 0.8; preferably less than or equal to 0.7, at an ambient temperature greater than or equal to 50° C., preferably greater than or equal to 56° C., in a three-dimensional microbead mill in a liquid phase for a residence time less than or equal to 15 minutes, preferably less than or equal to 10 minutes, and in particular less than or equal to 5 minutes; (2) recovering, as output from the mill, a final composition including solketal and, where appropriate, one or more sub-products corresponding to the starting reagents that have not reacted and/or to 1,3-O-isopropylidene-glycerol, and (3) optionally, separating the solketal from the one or more sub-products.

A reverse flow reactor (RFR) and process having a forward reaction feed cycle, a reverse reaction feed cycle, and a reverse regeneration cycle. The heat convected in the forward feed cycle matches the heat convected in the reverse flow cycles. Compared to an RFR without the reverse feed cycle, the three-cycle RPR substantially reduces the regeneration air flow rate, associated compression requirements, and the overall reactor volume, that are required.

Systems and methods are provided for conversion of methane and/or other hydrocarbons to hydrogen by pyrolysis while reducing or minimizing production of carbon oxides. The conversion of hydrocarbons to hydrogen is performed in one or more pyrolysis or conversion reactors that contain a plurality of sequential fluidized beds. The fluidized beds are arranged so that the coke particles forming the fluidized bed move in a counter-current direction relative to the gas phase flow of feed (e.g., methane) and/or product (H.sub.2) in the fluidized beds. By using a plurality of sequential fluidized beds, the heat transfer and management benefits of fluidized beds can be realized while also at least partially achieving the improved reaction rates that are associated with a plug flow or moving bed reactor.

The present disclosure provides a system for energy recycling using mechanical vapor recompression in combined chemical process, the system including a heat exchange reactor for generating an intermediate material by means of an exothermic reaction and discharging the generated intermediate material, and heat-exchanging heat generated in the exothermic reaction with water supplied from outside so as to generate water vapor; an absorption tank for receiving the intermediate material, and mixing the intermediate material with water, so as to generate an intermediate material aqueous solution; a stripper for receiving the intermediate material aqueous solution, and separating the intermediate material into an intermediate material gas and an intermediate material water-rich aqueous solution; an endothermic reactor for receiving the intermediate material water-rich aqueous solution, and reacting the intermediate material with water, so as to generate a final product aqueous solution; an evaporation concentrator for receiving the final product aqueous solution, and heat-exchanging heat of the water vapor from the heat exchange reactor with the final product aqueous solution so as to generate steam; a dehydrating distillation tower for receiving, dehydrating, and purifying the final product aqueous solution discharged from the evaporation concentrator; and a mechanical vapor recompressor for compressing the steam from the evaporation concentrator, and providing the compressed steam as a source of heat or a source of steam supply.

The invention relates to a reaction container for stabilizing the temperature of a liquid mixture substances, the reaction container comprising an upper container part and a lower container part, in which the lower container part has an inner direct means of refrigeration and an outer indirect means of refrigeration in addition to an inner, direct means of heating and an outer, indirect means of heating.

A reactor system for dehydrogenation of alkanes in a given temperature range upon bringing a reactant stream including alkanes into contact with a catalytic mixture. The reactor system includes a reactor unit arranged to accommodate the catalytic mixture, where the catalytic mixture includes catalyst particles and a ferromagnetic material. The catalyst particles are arranged to catalyze the dehydrogenation of alkanes. The ferromagnetic material is ferromagnetic at least at temperatures up to an upper limit of the given temperature range. The reactor system moreover includes an induction coil arranged to be powered by a power source supplying alternating current and being positioned so as to generate an alternating magnetic field within the reactor unit upon energization by the power source, whereby the catalytic mixture is heated to a temperature within the temperature range by means of the alternating magnetic field. Also, a catalytic mixture and a method of dehydrogenating alkanes.

Systems and methods are provided for performing steam cracking on a feed while using direct heating of the reaction environment. The heating of the reaction environment can be achieved in part by transporting heat transfer particles from a heating zone to cracking zone. This can be performed in a fluidized bed reactor, a moving bed reactor, a riser reactor, or another type of reactor that can allow for catalyst movement and regeneration during operation.