Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out endothermic reactions including a plurality of catalytic vessels, immersed in a combustion chamber having a contiguous overlaid convection chamber enclosing a top portion of the catalytic vessels wherein heat is recovered at a lower temperature level from the flue gases from the combustion chamber. The catalytic vessels may contain internal and coaxial heat recovery tubes creating an annular space filled in with a catalytic device. Both the external heat recovery through the catalyst tube outer surface and the internal heat recovery through the inner tube surface can be maximized by an enhanced catalytic device acting also as a heat transfer promoter in the process gas region. The apparatus provides enhanced and flexible heat recovery that permits to meet the request of minimum or none export steam production in one single apparatus, avoiding the need of a pre-reforming section and/or of a convective reformer downstream.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out endothermic reactions including a plurality of catalytic vessels, immersed in a combustion chamber having a contiguous overlaid convection chamber enclosing a top portion of the catalytic vessels wherein heat is recovered at a lower temperature level from the flue gases from the combustion chamber. The catalytic vessels may contain internal and coaxial heat recovery tubes creating an annular space filled in with a catalytic device. Both the external heat recovery through the catalyst tube outer surface and the internal heat recovery through the inner tube surface can be maximized by an enhanced catalytic device acting also as a heat transfer promoter in the process gas region. The apparatus provides enhanced and flexible heat recovery that permits to meet the request of minimum or none export steam production in one single apparatus, avoiding the need of a pre-reforming section and/or of a convective reformer downstream.

Abstract: A controlled heating method of a process fluid through concentrating solar thermal plant and heat carrier system where the solar heat available from solar plant is transmitted to a heat carrier stream constituted by air and it is eventually integrated with post firing fuel stream; the heat carrier stream constituted by hot air and post-firing flue gas stream is circulated via a duct circuit through a heat exchanger with the process fluid to allow reaching final required process fluid temperature; the post-firing contribute is determined by an automatic control system which controls in continuous the process fluid temperature and adapt the firing contribute during the different operating phases of the concentrating solar plant.

Abstract: A reformer furnace (1), comprising: at least one triple conduit assembly (200), including a flue gas conduit (220) enclosing a reaction conduit (240) enclosing a product gas conduit (260), wherein: the reaction conduit (240) extends between a lower end (244) defining a reaction gas inlet (245), and a closed upper end (242); the product gas conduit (260) extends between an upper end (262) defining a product gas inlet (263), and a lower end (264) defining a product gas outlet (265); the flue gas conduit (220) extends between an upper end (222) defining a flue gas inlet (223), and a lower end (224) defining a flue gas outlet (225); and an annulus (250) between the reaction conduit (240) and the product gas conduit (260) comprises a catalyst (252); a combustion chamber (100) that encloses an approximate upper half (226, 246, 266) of the at least one triple conduit assembly (200) while an approximate lower half (228, 248, 268) thereof resides outside of and below the combustion chamber, and that includes at least

Abstract: A reformer furnace (1), comprising: at least one triple conduit assembly (200), including a flue gas conduit (220) enclosing a reaction conduit (240) enclosing a product gas conduit (260), wherein: the reaction conduit (240) extends between a lower end (244) defining a reaction gas inlet (245), and a closed upper end (242); the product gas conduit (260) extends between an upper end (262) defining a product gas inlet (263), and a lower end (264) defining a product gas outlet (265); the flue gas conduit (220) extends between an upper end (222) defining a flue gas inlet (223), and a lower end (224) defining a flue gas outlet (225); and an annulus (250) between the reaction conduit (240) and the product gas conduit (260) comprises a catalyst (252); a combustion chamber (100) that encloses an approximate upper half (226, 246, 266) of the at least one triple conduit assembly (200) while an approximate lower half (228, 248, 268) thereof resides outside of and below the combustion chamber, and that includes at least

Abstract: Apparatus for providing heat to a reaction chamber in which an endothermic reaction is performed under utilization of hot smoke gas includes a barrier, preferably a tubular barrier at least partially enclosing the reaction chamber but being spaced therefrom; hot smoke gas is fed to a ring chamber outside of the barrier and caused to flow there along while losing some of its heat content until at a lower end of the barrier the flow of the cooled smoke gas is reversed and the gas is introduced into a gap between the barrier and the reaction chamber so that heat is transferred through the barrier from the hot smoke gas as it flows along the outside of the barrier to the gas as it flows in the gap for heating the reaction chamber in an essentially uniform manner.

Abstract: A stream of process gas is indirectly heated in an elongated reaction chamber (1) with a longitudinal axis, a first end (12) and a second end (13) and defined by an outside shell (2) and a thermally conductive inner wall (4). The inner wall defines at least one recess or cavity (3) which extends substantially between the first and second end of the chamber and parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. A process feed line (6) and a product-gas discharge line (7) are provided at opposite ends (12, 13) of the chamber. A heat conductive and heat resistant barrier (8) which defines an interior space extends coaxially with the recess or cavity (3) substantially along the entire length of the inner wall (4) and forms an annular space (9) therewith. A hot flue gas feed line (10) and a flue gas discharge line (11) is provided at one end (13) of the chamber.