Abstract: A micro-reactor for a reforming process has a cold side and a hot side opposite the cold side. Inlets are defined in the cold side, the inlets configured for receiving reagents. An outlet is defined in the cold side, the outlet configured for exiting reforming products. A reforming chamber is in the hot side, the reforming chamber having a catalyst, the reforming chamber configured for reforming the reagents into the reforming products, the reforming chamber including channels extending toward an end surface on the hot side of the reforming chamber, and a return plenum. A reagent path is from the inlets to the reforming chamber, the reagent path configured to feed the plurality of channels with reagents. A reforming product path is from the reforming chamber to the outlet, the reforming product path configured to receive products from the return plenum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calculating the strength and the service life of a process apparatus through which fluid flows, wherein: temperatures existing at a plurality of different points of the apparatus are measured at a first time point in order to obtain temperature measurement values (201); the temperature measurement values are used as constraints in a finite element method (203) in order to determine mechanical stresses existing at a plurality of different points in the material of the apparatus as stress values (204); the remaining service life of the material of the apparatus is determined from the obtained stress values (205); the remaining service life of the material of the apparatus is determined also in dependence on data regarding the apparatus that were determined at a second time point (207), which second time point is earlier than the first time point.