Abstract: A fluid distribution tray that is capable of providing for the distribution of a fluid across a surface area of a bed of contact material contained within a vessel, wherein the fluid distribution tray includes lost area due to a support element upon which the fluid distribution tray is supported within the vessel, wherein the fluid distribution tray includes a plurality of fluid flow means distributed across the fluid distribution tray in a distribution pattern providing for a high density distribution of fluid flow means within a compensation area that is adjacent and near to the lost area and a low density distribution of fluid flow means within the remaining useable area of the fluid distribution tray. Also included is a method providing for a uniform fluid distribution within a vessel.

Abstract: The invention is a support system for use with a reactor vessel that defines a reactor zone and has an inlet manway providing an opening into the reactor zone. The support system comprises a manway insert that is supported by the inlet manway and extends through the opening of the inlet manway and into the reactor zone. Attached to the manway insert is attachment means for connecting a support hanger to the manway insert and for transferring the load from the support hanger to the manway insert. The support hanger has an upper end and a lower end with the upper end being fixedly attached to the attachment means and the lower end being fixedly attached to support structure means for supporting a load.

Abstract: A compact fuel processor for converting a hydro-carbonaceous fuel into hydrogen and carbon dioxide having in series a hydrocarbon conversion zone for converting the hydro-carbonaceous fuel into a product gas of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, a water-gas shift reaction zone containing a catalyst suitable for the water-gas shift conversion reaction, an auxiliary water-gas shift reaction zone containing a catalyst suitable for the water-gas shift conversion reaction, and a carbon monoxide removal zone. The invention further relates to a fuel cell system having such a fuel processor and a fuel cell and to the use of such a fuel processor or such a fuel cell system.

Abstract: A fluid distribution tray that is capable of providing for the distribution of a fluid across a surface area of a bed of contact material contained within a vessel, wherein the fluid distribution tray includes lost area due to a support element upon which the fluid distribution tray is supported within the vessel, wherein the fluid distribution tray includes a plurality of fluid flow means distributed across the fluid distribution tray in a distribution pattern providing for a high density distribution of fluid flow means within a compensation area that is adjacent and near to the lost area and a low density distribution of fluid flow means within the remaining useable area of the fluid distribution tray. Also included is a method providing for a uniform fluid distribution within a vessel.

Abstract: The invention is a support system for use with a reactor vessel that defines a reactor zone and has an inlet manway providing an opening into the reactor zone. The support system comprises a manway insert that is supported by the inlet manway and extends through the opening of the inlet manway and into the reactor zone. Attached to the manway insert is attachment means for connecting a support hanger to the manway insert and for transferring the load from the support hanger to the manway insert. The support hanger has an upper end and a lower end with the upper end being fixedly attached to the attachment means and the lower end being fixedly attached to support structure means for supporting a load.

Abstract: A reactor with a catalyst bed having a central longitudinal axis, which catalyst bed has an upstream surface perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, and a distribution chamber for directing a gaseous mixture of reactants to the upstream surface of the catalyst bed, which distribution chamber has an inlet for tangentially introducing the mixture into the distribution chamber, the distribution chamber being defined by the upstream surface of the catalyst bed, a side surface having a central longitudinal axis that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the catalyst bed, and a covering surface formed such that the distance between the upstream surface of the catalyst bed and the covering surface is monotonically decreasing towards the central longitudinal axis. The invention further relates to a fuel cell system having such a reactor and a fuel cell and to a process for the catalytic oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel using such a reactor.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock with an oxygen-containing gas, wherein a flow of a feed mixture comprising the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and the oxygen-containing gas is contacted with a catalyst comprising at least one metal selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table supported on a catalyst carrier to form a conversion product comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, wherein the catalyst is retained in a fixed arrangement in a reactor comprising a feed supply chamber which is in fluid communication with the upstream surface of the fixed arrangement, in which process a part of the conversion product formed flows back to the feed supply chamber. The invention further relates to an electrical-energy generating process, an electrical-energy generating system, and transport means provided with this electrical-energy generating system.

Abstract: A reactor comprising a catalyst bed (1) having a central longitudinal axis, which catalyst bed has an upstream surface (2) perpendicular to the central longidutinal axis, and a distribution chamber (4) for directing a gaseaous mixture of reactants to the upstream surface (2) of the catalyst bed (1), which distribution chamber (4) has an inlet (5) for tangentially introducing the mixture into the distribution chamber (4), the distribution chamber (4) being defined by the upstream surface (2) of the catalyst bed (1), a sife surface (6) having a central longitudinal axis that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the catalyst bed (1), and a covering surface (7) formed such that the distance between the upstream surface (2) of the catalyst bed (1) and the covering surface (7) is monotonically decreasing towards the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A compact fuel processor for converting a hydro-carbonaceous fuel into hydrogen and carbon dioxide comprising in series a hydrocarbon converstion zone (5) for converting the hydro-carbonaceous fuel into a product gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, a water-gas shift reaction zone (6) containing a catalyst suitable for the water-gas shift conversion reaction, an auxiliary water-gas shift reaction zone (7) containing a catalyst suitable for the water-gas shift conversion reaction, and a carbon monoxide removal zone (8). The invention further relates to a fuel cell system comprising such a fuel processor and a fuel cell and to the use of such a fuel processor or such a fuel cell system.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock with an oxygen-containing gas, wherein a flow (5) of a feed mixture comprising the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and the oxygen-containing gas is contacted with a catalyst comprising at least one metal selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table supported on a catalyst carrier to form a conversion product comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, wherein the catalyst is retained in a fixed arrangement (2) in a reactor (1) comprising a feed supply chamber (4) which is in fluid communication with the upstream surface (3) of the fixed arrangement (2), in which process a part of the conversion product formed flows back to the feed supply chamber (4). The invention further relates to an electrical-energy generating process, an electrical-energy generating system, and transport means provided with this electrical-energy generating system.