Abstract: A reactor apparatus and method useful in regulating temperature in a heterogeneous reaction system is provided. The apparatus includes an elongated tube reactor packed with a bed of solid particles through which a reactant fluid phase is passed. A plurality of heat transfer medium passage tubes are disposed in the bed of solid particles with adjacent tubes spaced relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the reactor and with the tubes being substantially transverse to reactant flow through the reactor. The temperature in the system may, in turn, be regulated by effecting flow of a heat transfer medium through the passage tubes.

Abstract: A method for converting a lower molecular weight alkane to synthesis gas to higher molecular weight materials in the presence of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for converting a lower molecular weight alkane to synthesis gas to higher molecular weight materials comprising (a) passing a reaction mixture comprising the alkane and air at a pressure of from about 1 to about 50 pounds per square inch gauge through an elongated first reactor packed with a bed of refractory particles having three zones: (1) an upstream zone for heating the mixture, (2) a middle zone wherein alkane and oxygen react exothermically to produce hot CO, H.sub.2, and N.sub.2 and (3) a downstream zone for cooling the hot CO, H.sub.2, and N.sub.2 ; and (b) passing cooled CO, H.sub.2, and N.sub.2 to a reactor packed with Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to form higher molecular weight materials.