The invention relates to a device, stacked plate reactor and to a method for investigating chemical processes to be carried out simultaneously or almost at the same time on a large number of functional element variations of the process parameters.

Heat exchanger-reformer for use in a hydrogen production plant for producing syngas, for instance by means of a steam methane reforming method, wherein the reformer comprises vessel with a first inlet for supplying feed and a second inlet for supplying hot reformer effluent, preferably coming from a main steam methane reformer, wherein the heat exchanger-reformer further comprises a heat exchanging section that is arranged in fluid connection with the first and second inlets for exchanging heat between the feed and reformer effluent to effectuate steam reforming of hydrocarbon to produce syngas, wherein the heat exchanging section comprises a plate heat exchanger assembly for heat exchange between said feed and said reformer effluent.

A method for forming a metal flow module includes stacking together a first metal plate having opposing first and second major surfaces and one or more flow channels defined at least in part in the first major surface with a second metal plate having opposing first and second major surfaces, the plates stacked together with their respective first major surfaces facing each other and with a layer of flux positioned in between contacting portions of the respective first major surfaces defined as those portions of the respective first and second major surfaces which would be in contact absent the flux; then heating the plates together in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to thermally bond the contacting portions of the respective first major surfaces of the first and second metal plates. Resulting modules are also disclosed.

PFRs for running multiphasic processes are disclosed. The PFRs are single or multi-chamber devices having at least three types of regions (a liquid-contacting region, a gas-contacting region and a Ssquid-coSection region), and a porous substrate providing fluid communication at least between the liquid-contacting and gas-contacting regions. Removal of liquid from the porous substrate, such as by collecting the liquid as it flows off the bottom of the porous substrate in the Siquid-coSSection region or such as by evaporation of the liquid from the porous substrate in the evaporation region supports a continuous flow process. Methods of using the PFRs are also disclosed, for example methods of using the PFRs as photobioreactors for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms, for producing fermentable sugars, for producing ethanol, for fermenting synthesis gas and producing single cell protein from natural gas.

The flow passage structure comprises: a plural number of ceramic flow passage layers laminated with one another, inside of which a flow passage is formed; two outermost layers disposed on respective sides of the plural number of flow passage layers in a lamination direction where the flow passage layers are laminated; an outer elastic sheets made of an elastic body, which is interposed between each of the outermost layers and the flow passage layer adjacent thereto; and a fastening member fastening the two outermost layers to each other, in a state that the two outermost layers sandwich the flow passage layers from both sides in the lamination direction.

Heat exchanger-reformer for use in a hydrogen production plant for producing syngas, for instance by means of a steam methane reforming method, wherein the reformer comprises vessel with a first inlet for supplying feed and a second inlet for supplying hot reformer effluent, preferably coming from a main steam methane reformer, wherein the heat exchanger-reformer further comprises a heat exchanging section that is arranged in fluid connection with the first and second inlets for exchanging heat between the feed and reformer effluent to effectuate steam reforming of hydrocarbon to produce syngas, wherein the heat exchanging section comprises a plate heat exchanger assembly for heat exchange between said feed and said reformer effluent.

The reactor has a heat exchanging body which includes therein a heat medium flow channel in which heat medium fluid is caused to flow, a reaction flow channel in which a reaction fluid containing a first reactant (and a second reactant) is caused to flow, and a supplement channel for supplying a second reactant at an intermediate portion of the reaction flow channel. A catalyst is provided in the reaction flow channel and promotes the reaction in the reaction fluid. The heat exchanging body has a plurality of holes through which the supplement channel communicates with the reaction flow channel. Steam reforming can be performed using water vapor and hydrocarbon as the first and second reactants.

A reactor including a reactor vessel and, inside the reactor vessel there is a plate assembly which is mounted in suspended form. There is also a distributor which is attached to the plate assembly, and at least one supply line, via which the distributor is connected to a respective cooling fluid inlet of the reactor vessel. There is also a collector which is attached to the plate assembly, and at least one discharge line, via which the collector is connected to a respective cooling fluid outlet of the reactor vessel. Wherein flow paths for the cooling fluid are formed, and wherein the at least one supply line is curved.

A reactor having a reactor vessel and, inside the reactor vessel there is a plate assembly which is mounted upright, a distributor which is attached to the plate assembly, at least one supply line, via which the distributor is connected to a respective cooling fluid inlet of the reactor vessel, and a collector which is attached to the plate assembly, at least one discharge line, via which the collector is connected to a respective cooling fluid outlet of the reactor vessel. Wherein flow paths for the cooling fluid are formed, and wherein the at least one discharge line is curved in such a way that the discharge line runs around an axis of the reactor vessel by at least 180?.

A reactor has a heat exchanging body including therein a heat medium flow channel in which heat medium flows, and a reaction flow channel in which a reaction fluid flows, to exchange heat between the heat medium and the reaction fluid. A heat transfer promoter is provided in the heat medium flow channel and comes in close contact with the heat exchanging body to promote heat transfer between the heat medium and the heat exchanging body. The heat transfer promoter is an assembly of partial heat transfer promoters of a plurality of types. Replacing the partial heat transfer promoter with another type one, temperature distribution in the heat exchanging body is adjusted.