Abstract: A wood-type solid fuel fired water heater of modular construction includes a radiation heat transfer section or module in the form of a first annular or cylindrical side wall of refractory material. A water circulating first coil is embedded in the inner surface of the first annular side wall or cylinder to provide a partial water wall or water jacket in the refractory material. The first annular side wall defines the combustion chamber and locus of combustion for direct radiant heating of water in the first coil. The convection heat transfer section or module is formed by a second annular side wall or cylinder of refractory material positioned above the first annular side wall. A second coil for water circulation is mounted inside the second annular side wall but spaced from the inner surface for circulation of hot flue gas around the second coil for convection heating of water in the second coil.

Abstract: A steam reactor comprises a pressure shell having inlet and outlet nozzles for each of a process gas and a heating gas, a plurality of metal catalyst tubes packed with a catalyst and located substantially vertically within the pressure shell, one and of each of the catalyst tubes being connected to a pipe and the other end being communicated with the inlet nozzle of the process gas; and a riser pipe located substantially vertically within the pressure shell, one end of the riser pipe being connected to the pipes and the other end being terminated in the outlet nozzle of the process gas. A support member is provided on the pressure shell to support the catalyst tubes and the riser pipe. The plurality of pipes which connect the catalyst tubes and the riser pipe have a diameter which is smaller than that of the catalyst tubes and the riser pipe and a structure capable of taking up the difference in thermal expansion between the catalyst tubes and the riser pipe.