A reactor includes a first outer tube configured to contain a working fluid, and a first inner tube disposed in the first outer tube. The first inner tube is configured to contain a source of heat to transfer or absorb heat to or from the working fluid. The reactor further includes a second inner tube in the first outer tube. The second inner tube is wound around the first inner tube in a helical fashion, and the second inner tube is configured absorbs heat from and/or dissipates heat to the working fluid, and/or facilitate a reaction in a reactant contained in the second inner tube.

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.

The invention relates to a catalytic reactor comprising a combustion reaction chamber with catalytic reactor tubes filled with catalyst elements and metal radiation surfaces arranged in the chamber to improve heat transfer.

A reactor shell for producing hydrogen and/or synthesis gas and/or carbon dioxide from a fed reactive mixture stream is provided. The reactor shell includes: at least one reactive stream duct formed within the reactor shell, at least one structured ceramic catalyst having a plurality of juxtaposed hollow ceramic subunits, and at least one electrical heating means for heating the structured ceramic catalyst up to a predetermined reaction temperature. The reactor shell is characterized by an electrically heated structured ceramic catalyst. The electrical heating means is arranged inside at least some of the hollow ceramic subunits in a manner that there still remains a flowing passage.

A reactor shell for producing olefins via steam cracking from a fed reactive mixture stream composed of steam and hydrocarbons comprising: at least one reactive stream duct formed within said reactor shell, at least one structured ceramic bed having a plurality of hollow flow paths, at least one electrical resistance heating element for heating the reactive mixture stream up to a predetermined reaction temperature and a coating provided on a surface contacting with the reactive mixture stream is provided. The reactor shell is characterized by that said electrical resistance heating element that is arranged inside at least some of said hollow flow paths in a manner that there still remains a flowing passage inside the hollow flow paths.

The invention relates to a catalytic reactor comprising a combustion reaction chamber with catalytic reactor tubes filled with catalyst elements and metal radiation surfaces arranged in the chamber to improve heat transfer.

A reactor system and a process for carrying out the methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction of a feedstock comprising methanol to synthesis gas are provided, where the heat for the endothermic methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction is provided by resistance heating.

A reactor system and a process for carrying out the reaction of a feed gas comprising an alkane such as methane, and ammonia to hydrogen cyanide and/or a nitrile are provided, where the heat for the endothermic reaction is provided by resistance heating. In particular, the reaction is the BMA (Blausäure aus Methan und Ammoniak) reaction.

A reactor system and a process for carrying out the ammonia cracking reaction of a feed gas comprising ammonia to hydrogen are provided, where the heat for the endothermic ammonia cracking reaction is provided by resistance heating.

A reactor system for thermally treating a hydrocarbon-containing stream, that includes a pressure containment vessel comprising an interior chamber defined by a first end, a second end, and at least one side wall extending from the first end to the second end; and a ceramic heat transfer medium that converts electrical current to heat and is positioned within the interior chamber of the pressure containment vessel, wherein the heat transfer medium comprises an electrical resistor, an electrical lead line configured to provide electrical current to the heat transfer medium, a first end face, a second end face, and channels extending between the first end face and the second end face.