Abstract: A heat exchange reactor including a housing, a plurality of tubes mounted in the housing and configured to carry a first fluid, and a baffle having a plurality of holes receiving the tubes. The baffle is configured to guide a second fluid provided within the housing to flow in a direction generally perpendicular to the tubes. The reactor includes various configurations for minimizing adverse effects of thermal expansion of the baffle and the tubes. The reactor is configured to minimize mechanical interference between the baffle and the tubes in both an operational state and a non-operational state, for example, by shaping the holes in the baffle to take into account thermal expansion. The reactor also includes a thermal insulator along a length of the tubes at a large temperature gradient zone within the reactor. The reactor further includes a heat transfer fin in contact with only one of the tubes.

Abstract: A method for reducing shock during a flow of fluid between a higher pressure vessel and a lower pressure vessel. The method includes the steps of providing a conduit between the higher pressure vessel and the lower pressure vessel, and minimizing a rate of pressure change within the second vessel caused by the flow of fluid along the conduit from the higher pressure vessel. The minimizing step includes controlling a rate of flow of fluid between the first vessel and the second vessel over a predetermined duration.

Abstract: A method for reducing shock during a flow of fluid between a higher pressure vessel and a lower pressure vessel. The method includes the steps of providing a conduit between the higher pressure vessel and the lower pressure vessel, and minimizing a rate of pressure change within the second vessel caused by the flow of fluid along the conduit from the higher pressure vessel. The minimizing step includes controlling a rate of flow of fluid between the first vessel and the second vessel over a predetermined duration.

Abstract: A heat exchange reactor including a housing, a plurality of tubes mounted in the housing and configured to carry a first fluid, and a baffle having a plurality of holes receiving the tubes. The baffle is configured to guide a second fluid provided within the housing to flow in a direction generally perpendicular to the tubes. The reactor includes various configurations for minimizing adverse effects of thermal expansion of the baffle and the tubes. The reactor is configured to minimize mechanical interference between the baffle and the tubes in both an operational state and a non-operational state, for example, by shaping the holes in the baffle to take into account thermal expansion. The reactor also includes a thermal insulator along a length of the tubes at a large temperature gradient zone within the reactor. The reactor further includes a heat transfer fin in contact with only one of the tubes.