A hydrogen plant for producing hydrogen, including: a reforming reactor system including a first catalyst bed including an electrically conductive material and a catalytically active material, a heat insulation layer between the first catalyst bed and the pressure shell, and at least two conductors electrically connected to the electrically conductive material and to an electrical power supply placed outside the pressure shell, wherein the electrical power supply is dimensioned to heat at least part of the first catalyst bed to a temperature of at least 500° C. by passing an electrical current through the electrically conductive material, where the pressure shell has a design pressure of between 5 and 200 bar; a water gas shift unit downstream the reforming reactor system; and a gas separation unit downstream the water gas shift unit. A process for producing hydrogen from a feed gas including hydrocarbons.

A reactor for producing desired reaction products has a housing, a plurality of catalyst conduits within the housing, and a plurality of coolant conduits within the housing. The coolant conduits are interspersed among the catalyst conduits, and each catalyst conduit is positioned adjacent to at least two coolant conduits.

A catalytic reactor according to an embodiment includes a catalytic unit including at least one catalyst having a honeycomb structure in which a plurality of passages extending in an axial direction are formed, a reactor housing accommodating the catalytic unit, and a seal plate sealing between an outer periphery of the catalytic unit and an inner periphery of the reactor housing. The seal plate seals between the outer periphery of the catalytic unit and the inner periphery of the reactor housing at an upstream end portion of the catalytic unit with respect to a flow of a fluid flowing in the reactor housing.

A hydrogen plant for producing hydrogen, including: a reforming reactor system including a first catalyst bed including an electrically conductive material and a catalytically active material, a heat insulation layer between the first catalyst bed and the pressure shell, and at least two conductors electrically connected to the electrically conductive material and to an electrical power supply placed outside the pressure shell, wherein the electrical power supply is dimensioned to heat at least part of the first catalyst bed to a temperature of at least 500° C. by passing an electrical current through the electrically conductive material, where the pressure shell has a design pressure of between 5 and 200 bar; a water gas shift unit downstream the reforming reactor system; and a gas separation unit downstream the water gas shift unit. A process for producing hydrogen from a feed gas including hydrocarbons.

A catalytic reactor according to an embodiment includes a catalytic unit including at least one catalyst having a honeycomb structure in which a plurality of passages extending in an axial direction are formed, a reactor housing accommodating the catalytic unit, and a seal plate sealing between an outer periphery of the catalytic unit and an inner periphery of the reactor housing. The seal plate seals between the outer periphery of the catalytic unit and the inner periphery of the reactor housing at an upstream end portion of the catalytic unit with respect to a flow of a fluid flowing in the reactor housing.

Briefly, in one aspect, a catalytic assembly described herein comprises a module comprising at least one layer of structural catalyst bodies having an inlet face for receiving a gas stream. A diffuser assembly is arranged a distance of greater than 50 mm from the inlet face, the diffuser assembly including at least one diffuser element comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein a ratio of aperture length (L) in the gas stream flow direction to aperture hydraulic diameter (D.sub.a) is less than 1.

A reactor system for carrying out an endothermic reaction of a feed gas, including: a structured catalyst arranged for catalyzing the endothermic reaction of a feed gas, the structured catalyst including a macroscopic structure of electrically conductive material, the macroscopic structure supporting a ceramic coating, wherein the ceramic coating supports a catalytically active material; a pressure shell housing the structured catalyst; heat insulation layer between the structured catalyst and the pressure shell; at least two conductors electrically connected to the electrically conductive material and to an electrical power supply placed outside the pressure shell, wherein the electrical power supply is dimensioned to heat at least part of said structured catalyst to a temperature of at least 200° C. by passing an electrical current through the electrically conductive material. Also, a process for performing an endothermic reaction of a feed gas.

Briefly, in one aspect, a catalytic assembly described herein comprises a module comprising at least one layer of structural catalyst bodies having an inlet face for receiving a gas stream. A diffuser assembly is arranged a distance of greater than 50 mm from the inlet face, the diffuser assembly including at least one diffuser element comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein a ratio of aperture length (L) in the gas stream flow direction to aperture hydraulic diameter (D.sub.a) is less than 1.

Briefly, in one aspect, a catalytic assembly described herein comprises a module comprising at least one layer of structural catalyst bodies having an inlet face for receiving a gas stream. A diffuser assembly is arranged a distance of greater than 50 mm from the inlet face, the diffuser assembly including at least one diffuser element comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein a ratio of aperture length (L) in the gas stream flow direction to aperture hydraulic diameter (D.sub.a) is less than 1.

Briefly, in one aspect, a catalytic assembly described herein comprises a module comprising at least one layer of structural catalyst bodies having an inlet face for receiving a gas stream. A diffuser assembly is arranged a distance of greater than 50 mm from the inlet face, the diffuser assembly including at least one diffuser element comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein a ratio of aperture length (L) in the gas stream flow direction to aperture hydraulic diameter (D.sub.a) is less than 1.