A method of operating a dump tank of a polymer production process by transferring all or a portion of a content of a polymerization reactor into the dump tank, wherein the reactor contents comprise solid polymer, and liquid and gaseous non-product components, and removing at least a portion of the liquid and gaseous non-product components from the dump tank by: reducing a pressure of the dump tank, subjecting the solid polymer to a first cleaning stage comprising heating the solid polymer by introducing a first heated treatment gas into the dump tank, and subjecting the solid polymer to a second cleaning stage comprising purging the solid polymer by introducing a second heated treatment gas into the dump tank.

Methods for liquefaction of carbonaceous materials, including methods that use electromagnetic radiation. Systems for liquefaction of carbonaceous materials. The systems may include a circulation conduit for mixing reactants, and/or a heating apparatus that relies on electromagnetic radiation.

An integrated reformer includes an outer chamber, a first inlet, a second inlet, and a cooling unit associated with the outer chamber. The first inlet is configured to obtain a first gas stream into a first space in the outer chamber. The second inlet is configured to obtain a second gas stream into the first space in the outer chamber. The cooling unit is configured to absorb thermal energy from the first gas stream.

A process and a plant are proposed for producing a synthesis gas including hydrogen and carbon oxides by partial oxidation of carbon-containing fuel in the presence of an oxygen-containing oxidant and a moderator, wherein the obtained raw synthesis gas is laden with soot particles. According to the invention the cooling of the raw synthesis gas is carried out using a crossflow heat exchanger, a shell and tube heat exchanger or a spiral heat exchanger, wherein the carbon-containing input stream or the oxidant stream or the moderator stream or a plurality of these streams serve as the first coolant and are thus preheated before introduction into the partial oxidation plant.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for processing a slurry containing organic components, such as biomass, having a water contents of at least 50%, comprising a heat exchanger (7) to heat the slurry and a reactor (8) to convert at least a part of the organic components in the slurry, wherein at least one of the heat exchanger (7) and the reactor (8) comprises one or more pipes (7A; 8A). At least one transport screw (15) is accommodated in the pipe (7A; 8A) or at least one of the pipes (7A; 8A).

The present invention relates to an improved method and device for treating biomass in which thermally treated biomass is discharged from a pressurized reactor and introduced into a blow tank, wherein the absolute pressure in the blow tank is maintained below atmospheric pressure. The slurry of biomass separated in the blow tank is then enzymatically treated.

Disclosed herein is a system for solution polymerization comprising a reactor system that is operative to receive a monomer and to react the monomer to form a polymer; a plurality of devolatilization vessels located downstream of the reactor system, where each devolatilization vessel operates at a lower pressure than the preceding devolatilization vessel; and a heat exchanger disposed between two devolatilization vessels and in fluid communication with them, where the heat exchanger has an inlet port temperature of 100° C. to 230° C., an outlet port temperature of 200° C. to 300° C., an inlet port pressure of 35 to 250 kgf/cm.sup.2 and an outlet port pressure of 20 to 200 kgf/cm.sup.2; and wherein the polymer solution remains in a single phase during its residence in the heat exchanger.

A process for the catalytic oxidation of ammonia, comprising: passing an ammonia-containing gas, in the presence of oxygen, over a catalyst contained in a reactor, obtaining a process gas containing nitrogen oxides, and cooling said process gas with a heat exchanger accommodated in the reactor, wherein a portion of said process gas, located in the shell side, bypasses the heat exchanger and forms a hot current which mixes with cooled gas downstream the heat exchanger, and the bypass is regulated on the basis of a target outlet temperature of the mixed process gas.

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.

A combined reforming apparatus is provided. The combined reforming apparatus includes a body, a first catalyst tube disposed inside the body and reacting at a first temperature to reform hydrocarbons (C.sub.xH.sub.y) having two or more carbon atoms into methane (CH.sub.4), a second catalyst tube disposed inside the body, connected to the first catalyst tube, and reacting at a second temperature higher than the first temperature to reform methane (CH.sub.4) into synthesis gas comprising hydrogen (H.sub.2) and carbon monoxide (CO), and a combustion unit configured to supply heat to the first and second catalyst tubes.