A method of using a feedstock gas reactor is described. A hydrocarbon, such as methane, is chemical decomposed in the feedstock gas reactor using heat of combustion generated from the combustion of a combustible gas. A mixed product stream is extracted from the feedstock gas reactor. The mixed product stream comprises hydrogen, carbon, and water. At least a portion of the one or more combustion product gases are vented from the combustion chamber. At least some of the carbon is activated using the vented one or more combustion product gases. At least some of the activated carbon is recycled to the feedstock gas reactor.

A flow reactor system for providing on-demand H.sub.2 evolution at pressure from a liquid organic hydrogen carrier and/or blends thereof includes a reactor that includes a reaction vessel having an inlet and outlet. The inlet is configured to introduce reactants into the reaction vessel, and the outlet is configured to release reaction products. The reaction vessel is configured to hold therein a catalyst system capable of catalyzing the evolution of molecular hydrogen from a liquid organic hydrogen carrier. Advantageously, the reaction vessel is configured to operate at pressures greater than or equal to 50 psig (e.g., from about 50 psig to about 10500 psig. The flow reactor system also includes a source of preheated liquid organic hydrogen carrier in fluid communication with the reactor and a purification system in fluid communication with the outlet that provides purified molecular hydrogen gas for on-demand applications.

A method of using a feedstock gas reactor is described. A hydrocarbon, such as methane, is chemical decomposed in the feedstock gas reactor using heat of combustion generated from the combustion of a combustible gas. A mixed product stream is extracted from the feedstock gas reactor. The mixed product stream comprises hydrogen, carbon, and water. At least a portion of the one or more combustion product gases are vented from the combustion chamber. At least some of the carbon is activated using the vented one or more combustion product gases. At least some of the activated carbon is recycled to the feedstock gas reactor.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method of preparing synthetic fuel using natural gas extracted from a stranded gas field on land or at sea as a raw material through a compact GTL process or a GTL-FPSO process. A parallel-type gas purification unit for controlling a molar ratio of synthetic gas and a concentration of carbon dioxide in the synthetic gas, in which a CO.sub.2 separation device and a bypass unit are disposed in parallel, is provided and, thus, the gas purification unit may prepare the synthetic gas by a steam carbon dioxide reforming (SCR) reaction using natural gas having different CO.sub.2 contents of various stranded gas fields and then supply the synthetic gas having an optimum composition suitable for a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.

A method and apparatus for upgrading heavy oil is described, having a symbiotic relationship between a cracking reactor vessel and a steam reformer vessel. A first portion of an uncracked residue oil stream from the cracking reactor vessel is passed through a heat exchanger positioned within the steam reformer vessel and back to the cracking reactor vessel, such that a heat exchange takes place which heats the uncracked residue oil stream to promote cracking. A second portion of the uncracked residue oil stream from the cracking reactor vessel is injected directly into the steam reformer vessel. That portion of the uncracked residue oil stream not vaporized in the steam reformer vessel is converted into coke which becomes deposited in a fluidized bed of the steam reformer vessel. The fluidized bed activates steam which reacts with the coke to generate hydrogen. Hydrogen from the steam reformer vessel is directed into the cracking reactor vessel to assist with cracking.

A system including a gas production device including (a) a solid containing compartment configured to contain a solid, (b) at least one fluid channel with an inlet and an outlet comprising an opening along at least a portion of its length, the opening facing the solid, (c) a solution compartment configured to contain a solution, the solution compartment: (1) being in fluid communication with the fluid channel inlet and outlet, (2) located along a fluid pathway in between the fluid channel outlet and inlet, and (3) at least one hydrogen gas outlet, (d) a fluid flow driver in fluid communication with the fluid pathway, and (e) a fluid flow rate regulator connected to the fluid flow driver. Disclosed is also a method for producing a gas (e.g., hydrogen).

A process for producing acetic acid includes: (a) reacting, via a catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) reaction, a CPO reactant mixture in a CPO reactor to produce a hydrogen-lean syngas; wherein the hydrocarbons include equal to or greater than about 3 mol % C2+ alkanes; wherein the hydrogen-lean syngas includes hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and unreacted hydrocarbons; and wherein the hydrogen-lean syngas is characterized by a hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H2/CO) molar ratio of from about 0.7 to about 1.3. Also included is (b) feeding at least a portion of the hydrogen-lean syngas and dimethyl ether (DME) to a DME carbonylation unit to produce methyl acetate and a hydrogen-enriched syngas characterized by a H2/CO molar ratio of from about 1.8 to about 2.2; and (c) feeding at least a portion of the methyl acetate and water to a methyl acetate hydrolysis reaction zone to produce acetic acid and a methanol stream.

A process for producing hydrogen-lean syngas includes the steps of reacting, via a catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) reaction, a CPO reactant mixture in a CPO reactor to produce the hydrogen-lean syngas, wherein the CPO reactant mixture includes hydrocarbons and oxygen. The hydrocarbons include greater than or equal to about 3 mol % C2+ alkanes, wherein the CPO reactor include a CPO catalyst, and wherein the hydrogen-lean syngas include hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, and unreacted hydrocarbons The hydrogen-lean syngas is characterized by a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H2/CO) in a range of from about 0.8 to about 1.6. A system for carrying out the process is also provided.

A hydrogen mixed gas generation apparatus includes a superheated vapor heating part that heats a raw water to generate a superheated vapor and further heats the superheated vapor to produce a mixed gas that includes a hydrogen gas, and a communication part that is communicable with a predetermined terminal device and transmits information to the terminal device. The superheated vapor heating part houses a reduction acceleration member and includes a heating pipe where the raw water flows therein, and a coil heater that is wound around the heating pipe. The reduction acceleration member includes a first metal member that is formed of a stainless steel and includes a cylindrical part where rod bodies respectively extend from both ends thereof and a second metal member that is formed of an iron and steel material and is housed in the cylindrical part in a state where a plurality thereof are bundled.

A system for controlling hydrogen production from water-reactive aluminum includes a regulator. For example, the regulator may include a plurality of discrete objects and a retainer. Each one of the discrete objects includes aluminum in an activated form reactable with water to produce hydrogen. The retainer may encase the plurality of discrete objects collectively in an elongate shape having an axial dimension greater than a radial dimension. Within the elongate shape, the plurality of discrete objects may define voids therebetween. The retainer may be permeable across its thickness such that water may enter the retainer to react with the activated form of aluminum of the discrete objects in a local concentration that promotes heat generation for rapid reaction while water about the retainer may globally cool the material in the retainer, with the combination promoting rapid and efficient reaction of aluminum to produce hydrogen.