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.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a container which has a central cooling chamber and an annular chamber which surrounds the cooling chamber and contains catalyst. The gas mixture to be reacted contains H.sub.2 S and SO.sub.2 enters the annular chamber and first flows through the catalyst. The cooling chamber contains at least one coolant line and is provided with a passage for gas mixture coming from the annular chamber and with a gas outlet. The cooling chamber is provided at its bottom end with a drain for the liquid elementary sulfur .

Abstract: A catalyst bed for conducting exothermal reactions between gases and/or other fluids is disclosed. The catalyst bed includes at least two cooling elements arranged in parallel relationship with each other. A space is thereby defined between the two cooling elements, and one opening at each opposite end of the cooling elements is also defined by the arrangement of cooling elements. The space created is adapted to receive a catalyst mass through either of the openings. The cooling elements cool the gases and/or other fluids, as well as the catalyst mass to keep the reaction temperature low enough to maintain a desired state of equilibrium.

Abstract: An apparatus transfers heat for the purpose of purifying raw feed liquid, separating dissolved gases from liquids, vaporizing heat transfer fluids or containing and regulating biological/chemical reactions. The feed liquid is directed into an evaporator module submerged in a solar pond or other body of heated liquid. The evaporator module includes a rotating housing through which a plurality of spaced apart substantially horizontal open ended heat transfer tubes extend. A heating liquid is directed through the heat transfer tubes. The feedwater is distributed within the evaporator module so as to cause the feedwater to descend into heat transferring contact with the heat transfer tubes and thereby vaporize a portion of the feedwater. A preferred embodiment of the evaporator module is disclosed which includes cavitation fins for urging the heated liquid through the evaporator module.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the heat regulation of fluidized or fluid catalyst beds are described, the apparatus having a fluid bed heat exchanger. According to the invention, a pulverulent solid is made to flow essentially from the base of an enclosure (1) into a heat exchanger (6) having an internal separating partition (22) which defines two elongated, adjacent compartments (23, 24) communicating at their lower part. In the compartment in which the pulverulent solid flows downwards, the fluidization speed or rate is between 0.1 cm to 2 m/s, whereas in the compartment wherein the pulverulent solid rises again into the heat exchanger (6), the fluidization speed is between 0.1 and 6 m/s. The invention can be used for refining reaction (e.g., catalytic reforming), for the regeneration of a fluidized bed catalytic cracking catalyst of a petroleum or oil charge, or for the combustion of coal.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating apparatus has, at least, a material gas supply system, steam generator, an air supply system, a reforming system including a reformer and a shift converter each incorporating a catalyst, a product hydrogen transporting system, and a reformer combustion gas exhaust system. The apparatus is characterized by further having a shift converter jacket surrounding the catalyst of said shift converter, a branch pipe branching from said reformer combustion gas exhaust system and leading to said shift converter jacket, and a change-over valve provided at a portion of said reformer combustion gas exhaust system where said branch pipes branches off said reformer combustion gas exhaust system. During the start-up of the apparatus, the combustion gas exhausted from the reformer is introduced into the shift converter jacket to heat the shift converter thereby realizing a quick start-up, i.e., temperature rise, of the reformer system.

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: The invention relates to a means for heating the charge of a catalytic reforming unit operating under low pressure.The invention more particularly relates to an apparatus having in combination a first heat exchanger (6), in which a recycling gas/liquid charge mixture introduced by pipe (5) is completely vaporized, and a second exchanger (9) in which the charge is heated to an adequate temperature by indirect contact with reforming effluent delivered by pipe (17), which successively passes through the two heat exchangers.

Abstract: A reactor system and process for conducting exothermic or endothermic chemical reactions achieves greater kinetic efficiency through transfer of heat between adjacent feed temperature modification and reaction zones.

Abstract: A shell-and-tube apparatus, more specifically, a shell-and-tube reactor, which includes a vessel, at least one intermediate tube plate sectioning the interior of the vessel into at least two compartments having different temperatures, a number of heat transferring tubes penetrating the intermediate tube plate or plates, and a fluid passing through the tubes which is heated or cooled by a heat transfer medium surrounding the tubes. At least one insulation plate or plates are provided on one or both sides of the intermediate tube plate so that the space between the intermediate tube plate or plates and, if two or more insulation plates are used, the space or spaces between the insulation plates may be utilized as a stagnation zone for the heat transfer medium, so as to make the temperature gradient through the intermediate tube plate or plates gentle and relax the thermal stress occurring in the body wall.

Abstract: A convective reformer device is provided which is useful for partially reforming a feed mixture of hydrocarbons and steam. The device includes an outer shell enclosure and a tubular inner core assembly and is specifically adapted to support heat exchange between a heating fluid, which may be an effluent from downstream, and the hydrocarbon-steam feed mixture. The convective reformer is used in a system and process for the steam reformation of hydrocarbons, in which the partially reformed effluent from the convective reformer is further reformed in a steam reforming furnace, or an auto-thermal reformer, or a steam reforming furnace followed by an auto-thermal reformer. The fully reformed effluent from the steam reformer, or auto-thermal reformer, is directed back to the convective reformer to supply the heat of reaction for the partial reformation of the feed mixture.

Abstract: This invention provides a catalyst layer-fixed reactor for an exothermic reaction which comprises a plurality of reaction tubes disposed within a shell of the reactor, an inner tube disposed in the middle portion of each of the reaction tubes, catalyst layers formed by catalyst charged in the space inside the reaction tubes and outside the inner tubes, and a cooling medium charged between each of the reaction tubes and the shell, and in which a feed gas is flowed in each of the inner tubes in cocurrent to feed gas flowing in the fixed catalyst layer.

Abstract: Heat transfer equipment is provided having a chamber adapted to contain a bed of free-flowing granular material and a plurality of spirally wound cylindrical tube coils nested together which extend concentrically around a centrally positioned tube collector. Each tube coil is wound on a cylindrical surface having an axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the chamber. The tubes at least at the top end of the chamber emerge from the coil and remain on the cylindrical surface as they extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The tubes then bend about 90.degree. and extend radially toward the longitudinal axis and connect to the centrally positioned tube collector. In the radial run, the tubes from different tube coils overlap one another on the top of the coils and extend radially over substantially the same outer surface of the tube coils. A retaining device adapted to be removed in sections is positioned below the tubes in the chamber.

Abstract: Hydrogen gas is generated on demand by reacting hydrochloric acid (haloacid) and a pure metal by flowing the acid upwardly through a bed of metal particles held on a distributor plate within a sliding tray. The tray reciprocates in a retaining vessel. A port in the retaining vessel can be aligned with a drain port in the sliding tray (below the distributor plate) so that the solution in the bed can be shunted directly to an annulus between the retaining vessel and the reactor jacket, thereby eliminating contact of acid and metal and stopping the generation of hydrogen. A coolant may be circulated in the base of the retaining vessel to control the temperature of the acid as it enters the bed, thereby helping to control the reaction rate.

Abstract: Aliphatic oxygenates are converted to high octane gasoline by an integrated reactor system wherein three reaction zones are utilized. In a first reaction zone the oxygenates are directly converted to gasoline and an isobutane by-product. In a second reaction zone oxygenates are dehydrated to an intermediate product comprising C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 olefins, which are then further reacted with the isobutane by-product in a third reaction zone to yield a gasoline alkylate. Ethylene-containing vapors may be separated from the second reaction zone and recycled to the first reaction zone for further processing.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an automated sample preparation system for chemical assay of samples of materials. The sample preparation system includes a sample preparation chamber which includes a removable cup for taking to the location of solid or very viscous samples. The cup may be attached in sealing relationship to a cap through which extends various utilities such as a mixer/grinder to grind solid samples and mix non-homogeneous samples, a fill pipe to pump in liquid samples, an effluent pipe in the sump of the cup to allow pump of samples and solvents and a nozzle to allow liquids to be sprayed against the walls. A sample metering valve associated with the sample preparation chamber allows a known volume of sample to be isolated so that solvent may be pumped in to dilute the sample to a user defined concentration.

Abstract: A catalytic reactor includes a reactor vessel, a catalyst bed and at least two heat exchangers. The catalyst bed and heat exchangers are arranged coaxially with the central axis of a reactor vessel and substantially at the same height.

Abstract: A cooling fluid is utilized to withdraw heat from a KOH treater. The passing of the cooling fluid in heat exchange with the KOH treater is controlled so as to maintain desired operating pressures for the cooling fluid and also to substantially maximize heat transfer. Bypassing of the feed around the KOH treater to prevent temperature runaway is utilized only if sufficient cooling cannot be provided by the cooling fluid to prevent temperature runaway.

Abstract: Improved performance is obtained in a multi-tube reactor for oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide by providing a distribution zone for the coolant located downstream of the catalyst and a contiguous cooling zone. The effluent gases from the oxidation are cooled in the cooling zone by a fluid, which has been only slightly preheated and distributed uniformly in the distribution zone by contact with tubes in which the effluent gases are in low-turbulence flow. Uniform distribution of the coolant provides substantially equal cooling of the effluent gases in each tube, thus minimizing the variation in effluent gas temperature among the tubes. Preferably, the tubes in the cooling section are packed with inert particles to facilitate heat transfer, while the tubes are empty in the distribution section to reduce heat transfer.

Abstract: A convective reformer device is provided which is useful for partially reforming a feed mixture of hydrocarbons and steam. The device includes an outer shell enclosure and a tubular inner core assembly and is specifically adapted to support heat exchange between a heating fluid, which may be an effluent from downstream, and the hydrocarbon-steam feed mixture. The convective reformer is used in a system and process for the steam reformation of hydrocarbons, in which the partially reformed effluent from the convective reformer is further reformed in a steam reforming furnace, or an auto-thermal reformer, or a steam reforming furnace followed by an auto-thermal reformer. The fully reformed effluent from the steam reformer, or auto-thermal reformer, is directed back to the convective reformer to supply the heat of reaction for the partial reformation of the feed mixture.

Abstract: A cracking furnace for naphtha and other hydrocarbons or, in general, for the rapid heating of a fluid feed stack has one or more tubular elements satisfying the following conditions: d.sub.h 32 F/U.ltoreq.40mm, and D/d.gtoreq.2, wherein: d.sub.h =the hydraulic diameter of the flow passage defined as the ratio of the flow cross-sectional area to the inner peripheral dimension therearound; F=the flow cross-sectional area; U=the inner peripheral dimension of the flow cross section; d=the cross-sectional height of the flow cross section; and D=the width of the flow cross section.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved hydrocarbon steam-cracking method intended to produce more particularly ethylene and propylene.The method is based on the utilization of a multi-channel system made of ceramic material, in which the charge and heat exchange fluids or refrigerants alternatively pass through the channels or rows of channels constituting the continuous assembly comprising a pyrolysis zone followed by a quenching zone.The method according to the invention is applicable to charges ranging from ethane to vacuum gas oils.

Abstract: Hydrogen gas is generated on demand by reacting hydrochloric acid (haloacid) and a pure metal by flowing the acid upwardly through a bed of metal particles held on a distributor plate within a sliding tray. The tray reciprocates in a retaining vessel. A port in the retaining vessel can be aligned with a drain port in the sliding tray (below the distributor plate) so that the solution in the bed can be shunted directly to an annulus between the retaining vessel and the reactor jacket, thereby eliminating contact of acid and metal and stopping the generation of hydrogen. A coolant may be circulated in the base of the retaining vessel to control the temperature of the acid as it enters the bed, thereby helping to control the reaction rate. A hydrogen generator reactor includes one or more such sliding trays housed within a jacket.

Abstract: The heat exchanger, which forms a part of the fluid treatment apparatus of this invention, includes an insulated tubular having concentric telescopically nested spaced tubes, wherein the space between the tubes is sealed and filled with an inert gas. The surfaces of the tubes are coated with a hydrogen permeation barrier preferably comprising an aluminum-iron alloy, nickel or copper which limits atomic hydrogen permeation into the space between the tubes, which would combine to form hydrogen gas and result in heat loss. The insulated tubular is telescopically nested in a pipe, forming a fluid heat exchanger and the heat exchanger is telescopically nested in fluid waste circulation pipes, forming the fluid treatment apparatus of this invention. The preferred fluid heat exchanger is a vertically extending deep well reactor suitable for wet oxidation reaction of fluid wastes including municipal sludge.

Abstract: An apparatus in the form of an air preheater for preheating air for combustion for a combustion process by acting upon the air with hot, NO.sub.x -containing flue gases from the same or an independent combustion process. At the same time, the NO.sub.x contained in the flue gases is reduced. A regenerative or recuperative type air preheater is used, with those surfaces of the heat exchange elements which are exposed to the flue gas being provided with a coating which acts as a catalyst for the NO.sub.x reduction. The heat exchange elements are coated only in a region which has a flue gas temperature greater than the condensation temperature of the reaction products of the materials contained in the flue gas and of the added reducing agent.

Abstract: A multitube reactor for exothermic or endothermic reactions carried out in a multiplicity of tubes, which are surrounded by a liquid, at least part of which is circulated by a circulating pump, which is disposed outside the reactor structure, to flow through heating and cooling means and is the recycled to the reactor structure. The tubes and the surrounding liquid are disposed between a cylindrical inner wall and an outer wall which surrounds and is coaxial to the inner wall. The circulating pump is disposed in the liquid-free space that is surrounded by the inner wall.

Abstract: A vertical reactor for catalytic exothermic and endothermic reactions, especially for the production of methanol, ammonia, synthesis gas and higher alcohols, with a jacket containing the catalyst bed and exchanger pipes which form a tube bundle running through the jacket parallel to its longitudinal axis, with a gas-permeable floor supporting the catalyst bed, as well as feed and discharge pipes for the cooling or heating medium running through the jacket lid and the jacket floor, said feed and discharge pipes, as well as feed and discharge pipes for the reaction gas, leading into horizontal distributing and collecting pipes wherein the upper and lower ends of the upright or essentially upright exchanger pipes of the tube bundle lead into horizontal supporting headers which are parallel to each other and arranged below and above the collecting and distributing pipes.

Abstract: For conducting exothermic catalytic reactions, e.g., production of methane from CO.sub.x and H.sub.2, a reactor is cooled internally by indirect heat exchange with a single heat exchanger provided in the reactor feed inlet region with a gradually increasing surface intensity (defined as the product of the overall coefficient of thermal conductivity, (h), of the tube wall times the cooling surface density, m.sup.2 /m.sup.3) reaching a maximum intensity at a central zone of the heat exchanger where the preponderant cooling occurs. A zone of gradually decreasing cooling surface intensity may also be provided at the outlet end of the reactor, and uncooled adiabatic zones may be incorporated in the zones immediate the inlet and outlet ends of the reactor.

Abstract: An improved reactor is disclosed wherein a high temperature product gas discharged from a catalyst bed within the reactor is cooled in a central heat exchanger installed within the reactor by heat exchange with a low temperature feed gas comprising gaseous raw materials for the reaction, and the product gas is thereafter flowed along the inner surface of an outer pressure vessel in order to maintain the outer pressure vessel at a low temperature. Inlet and outlet pipes for a coolant which coolant is circulated through a coolant passage structure which penetrates the catalyst bed in order to absorb the heat of reaction, both penetrate the top cover of the outer pressure vessel so that the coolant passage structure can be readily removed for maintenance and inspection, and the overall design of the reactor is simplified.

Abstract: A reactor, especially for exothermic reactions like methanol synthesis, comprises a tube bundle in which the coiling tube extends through a body of particles to facilitate the discharge of depleted particles from the catalyst space and to increase the pressure resistance of the assembly, the tube sheet at the opposite ends of the bore being convex inwardly. The tube bundle has a helical configuration and the tube sheets are hemispherical in shape in the region where the tubes intersect with the tube sheet. The tubes intersect the bottom tube sheet in radial rows of openings wherein the rows are spaced to facilitate the discharge of catalyst particles.

Abstract: A reactor comprises a vertically elongated cylindrical housing with at least one bottom in the housing which supports a catalyst bed which is permeable to gas and through which heat exchanger tubes extend. The construction includes a cylindrical wall within the housing which encloses the catalyst. The housing is constructed so that a cover thereof may be removed to lift the bottom together with the cylindrical wall and the catalyst bed with the tubes out of the housing. The cylindrical wall is advantageously formed by finned tubes. The construction advantageously includes upper and lower header portions and the heat exchanger tubes which extend through the bed are bent at each end and extend into these headers. In an alternate embodiment, the reactor has more than one bottom at spaced vertical locations. Coolant is advantageously supplied through one of the headers of the heat exchanger tubes, for example, a lower one for exit out through the upper one.

Abstract: Plural vertical tube reactor provides downward flow only, in a serial manner, through a plurality of sets of tubes containing a particulate contact material such as a catalyst which are located in adjacent sectors or reigons of a shell and tube reactor. An empty tube(s) is provided to carry the reactant fluid upwardly from the bottom of one sector of tubes to the top of another. In a two sector configuration, the upper and lower end chambers are each partitioned in half, but the lower partition has a screened port to allow reacted fluid from the first sector to reach, and move upwardly through, an empty tube(s) in the second sector which is isolated from the other tubes in the second sector at its bottom end but not at its top end.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a catalytic chemical reaction in the presence of a granular catalyst under conditions such that both the reactants and the reaction product are gaseous at the temperature and pressure of the reaction. According to the present invention, a vertically extending, annular, intercylinder space, defined between a cylindrical outer catalyst retainer and a cylinder inner catalyst retainer, is divided by radially extending vertical partition walls into a plurality of chambers. Heat-exchanging tubes are disposed vertically in at least one of the chambers. A granular catalyst is packed in at least two of said chambers to form at least two reaction chambers. A feed gas is caused to flow successively and in radial directions through these reaction chambers. Since the invention reactor achieves an improved linear gas flow velocity and a greater overall heat-transfer coefficient, the reactor of the invention requires fewer heat-exchanging tubes and can thus be made smaller.

Abstract: Reactor for conducting high exothermic and endothermic catalytic processes of partial oxidation, oxidizing ammonolysis, oxidizing dehydrogenation and so forth. The reactor has a shell in which there are disposed in sequence sets of tubes making up axially spaced heat exchange sections and contact sections alternating with each other, the tubes in the contact section being provided with catalysts deposited upon there outer surfaces. The shell is provided with an inlet port for raw material at the top thereof, a discharge port at the bottom thereof for removal of finished material, and at least one lateral port disposed between successive contact sections. The advantages of the reactor of the inventions lie in the quicker and easier method for deposition of catalysts upon the tubes within the contact sections, and in the lateral ports for feeding the reactor with raw material. As a result of this the temperature profile in the reactor is optimized and the productivity of the reactor is markedly increased.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing an acid compound wherein an aqueous medium is pumped through a first reactor into which ammonia is injected. The first reactor comprises a venturi with a mixing deflector in the throat of the venturi. The ammonia is introduced to the first reactor via an inclined fitting proximate to the deflector. The aqueous ammonia medium is caused to flow through a second reactor downstream from the first reactor wherein sulfuric acid is injected and mixed with the aqueous ammonia medium resulting in an exothermic reaction between the ammonia and sulfuric acid under high temperatures and pressures. The sulfuric acid inlet of the second reactor comprises an inclined fitting which extends into the second reactor to form a baffle to facilitate mixing of the sulfuric acid and the aqueous ammonia mixture. The ammonia/sulfuric acid mixture then flows into a vat wherein the temperature and pressure of the compound are reduced.

Abstract: A reactor is provided for producing methanol by the reaction of synthesis gases containing carbon oxides and hydrogen in contact with a copper containing catalyst positioned in the reactor in catalyst tubes surrounded by boiling water under pressure. The catalyst tubes are made from a metallic material which is catalytically inactive with respect to the methanol synthesis gas and have approximately the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the shell of the reactor. The catalyst tubes are made of a steel composed of mixed austeniticferritic structure and containing 10-30% by weight chromium.

Abstract: In a method of operating a liquid-liquid heat exchanger the first heat exchanging medium is passed upwardly through a plurality of tubes in which a granular mass is kept fluidized by the flow of the first medium and the second heat-exchanging medium is passed downwardly through which said tubes extend spaced apart and whereby heat exchange takes place through the tube walls. To improve heat transfer between the tubes and the second medium, especially at low flow rates of the latter, said chamber contains, around and between the tubes, a loosely packed solid particulate filling material through which the second medium flows, and the longitudinal superficial velocity of the second medium between the tubes (U.sub.l,s) satisfies the relation 0.05<U.sub.l,s <0.25 m/sec.

Abstract: H.sub.2 S-containing gases are desulfurized by direct catalytic oxidation of the H.sub.2 S to elementary sulfur by means of oxygen-containing gases in a tube reactor, with indirect removal of the heat of reaction by means of a coolant and with condensation of the sulfur formed, wherein either the catalyst is present in the jacket space around the tubes and the coolant is present in the tubes of the reactor or the coolant is present in the jacket space around the tubes and the catalyst is present in the tubes of the reactor, and the catalyst fills the tubes of the tube reactor or the jacket space around the tubes over the entire cross-section of the tubes or the jacket space respectively, the exit temperature of the gaseous reaction mixture leaving the tube reactor is kept at 180.degree.-400.degree. C. and the sulfur formed in the tube reactor is separated out of the reaction mixture, obtained in the reactor, in a condensation stage downstream of the reactor.

Abstract: A shell and tube type of economizer is divided into first, second and third sections. Gas flow through the economizer flows sequentially through the first, second and third sections. The liquid first flows through the second section and then through the third and first sections. The second section serves as a preheater to increase the heat recovered from the gas stream.

Abstract: A reactor of the shell and tube type wherein the head on the first end of the reactor is divided by a partition. A reactant, e.g. oxygen, is passed into one side of the divided head, passed through the tubes containing catalyst on one side of the reactor which are available to that portion of the head. Upon exiting into the head at the opposite end of the reactor the reactant oxygen is mixed with another reactant, e.g. a chlorinated hydrocarbon, and fed into tubes on the other side of the reactor, which also contains catalyst, and wherein the oxidation of the chlorinated hydrocarbon occurs. The product gases exit on the side of the divided head opposite the oxygen inlet at the first end of the reactor. A heat exchange medium surrounds the tubes and circulates within the shell to either heat or cool the said tubes as necessary. When the catalyst employed in the reaction becomes coated with carbonaceous material the flow is reversed and the oxygen fed into that side of the reactor to regenerate the catalyst.

Abstract: A catalytic heat exchanger useful for carrying out a catalytic reaction wherein a gaseous or vaporized mixture is flowed into contact with a catalytic material reactive with such mixture. The heat exchanger includes a reaction zone divided by a plurality of baffle plates into regions of progressive increasing or decreasing volume. The baffle plates form a tortuous flow path for the gaseous or vaporized mixture that provides intermittent contact with a bundle of heat exchange tubes and the catalytic material. The intermittent contact in turn provides a uniform reaction temperature which promotes reaction specificity.

Abstract: The flow of cracked gases, for example, from an ethylene plant through the tubes of a transfer line heat exchanger is equalized by employing larger cross-section tubes in the outer portion of the exchanger and smaller cross-section tubes in the inner portion of the exchanger thereby preventing, or substantially minimizing, build-up of coke deposits in the exchanger, especially in the inlets of the tubes in the outer portion where coke formation conventionally occurs.

Abstract: A reactor and the use thereof for fueling an internal combustion engine.The reactor comprising a monolithic substrate and catalytic material,said monolithic substrate containing a plurality of substantially parallel channels, means being provided for charging a heat exchange fluid into said channels and recovering said heat exchange fluid from said channels, said monolithic substrate containing a plurality of passageways through said substrate generally parallel to said channels, said passageways being adapted to pass a reactant stream through said monolithic substrate and said passageways being larger in cross section and fewer in number than said channels, said catalytic material being supported within said passageways, as a coating on the passageway walls or as pellets.

Abstract: In a reactor consisting essentially of a monolithic substrate containing a plurality of substantially parallel channels having catalytic surfaces and means for charging a reactant stream into the channels and recovering a product stream from the channels, an improvement comprising; positioning a plurality of passageways through the monolithic substrate generally parallel to the channels with the passageways being adapted to pass a heat exchange fluid through the monolithic substrate.

Abstract: A reactor for exothermic reactions provided with bundles of narrow axial cooling pipes, mounted between distributing and collecting drums ("steam headers") provided with tube sheets. The distributing drums are placed symmetrically around the outlet end of a central axial coolant inlet pipe, recovering from top to bottom of the reactor. A feed gas inlet at the bottom branches into feed pipes with a quantity of nozzles, in order to allow the gas to fluidize a mass of catalyst particles.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are preheated, particularly for a hydrodesulfurization process by first heating the hydrocarbon stream to produce a vapor and a liquid stream, thereafter superheating at least some of the vapor phase and mixing the superheated vapor phase with the liquid phase to generate the hydrocarbon feedstream at the desired temperature. By this procedure only the evaporated hydrocarbons are subjected to a high temperature, but not the heavier hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Olefins are dimerized in a loop reactor with flashing of the reactor effluent in a flashing zone within the loop. A subsequent flash in a second flashing zone can also be used for the removal of product as flash vapor. In another embodiment, separated product dimers or product heavies are used as absorbents for unreacted ethylene. The use of a vapor-liquid contacting device incorporated in the loop reactor is especially helpful in the dimerization of an olefin when the olefin is available in low-concentration gas streams. A thermosiphon loop reactor can also be used for low-concentration olefin streams to minimize the power requirements as the energy of the feed gas is used to induce the reactor circulation.

Abstract: The apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,123 is improved by constructing the heat recovery stage as a relatively elongated water-wall type of heat exchanger within a pressure shell, rather than of shell and tube type. The heat exchanger is advantageously formed from contiguous, externally finned, vertical tubes that are rigidly joined together to form a laterally closed, heat recovery chamber, the fin portion of one being welded along its tip to the tube portion of another adjoining such fin portion. The heat exchanger tubes preferably continue vertically throughout substantially the entire height of the gasification reaction i.e. combustion chamber of the first stage of the apparatus, completely eliminating the intermediate quench stage of the patented apparatus and serving to recover heat from the combustion stage as well as from the heat recovery stage by a heat exchange fluid, such as water, flowing through the tubes.

Abstract: Deposit of solids on the walls of tubular continuous flow reactors is avoided by a process and apparatus in which an oscillating motion is superimposed on the linear flow of reactants in order to maintain turbulent flow throughout.

Abstract: A heat exchanger, reactor or like apparatus capable of carrying out heat exchange, material exchange or combinations thereof, comprises a cylindrical housing formed at one end with a cover and provided internally with a cylindrical partition carried by the cover and reaching toward but terminating short of the opposite end of the housing to subdivide the interior into an inner chamber or space and an outer annular chamber or space. A first fluid is fed to a helical-coil tube bundle in the outer space and then passes into a helical-coil tube bundle in the inner space before being discharged through a manifold and pipe in the cover disposed centrally. The inlet pipe or pipes are also carried by the cover outwardly of the central pipe. The conduits for the second fluid which open into the spaces and which pass around the heat exchanger pipes in these spaces are also carried by the cover and may extend coaxially with the first fluid conduits.