Method of Operating a Reactor Module for Endothermic Reactions and a Reactor Having a Plurality of Such Reactor Modules

Abstract

A reactor has multiple reactor modules for endothermic reactions. Each reactor module comprises a reaction channel enclosed by a tubular boundary wall and having first and second ends. The reactor module has an inlet element for introducing reactants into the reaction channel. The inlet element is arranged at the first end of the reaction channel. The reactor module has an outlet element for discharging the reaction products from the reaction channel. The outlet element is arranged at the second end of the reaction channel. The reactor module has a heat supply device in the form of a porous burner arrangement that is arranged on the outside of the tubular boundary wall of the reaction channel. Because a porous burner arrangement is used instead of a heat source having catalytic combustion, high reactor performance is achieved at an economical price. The porous burner is substantially less expensive than a combustion catalyst.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A device comprising:
 a reaction conduit with a tubular boundary wall, a first end and a second end;   an inlet element adapted to receive a reaction feed material into the reaction conduit, wherein the inlet element is disposed at the first end of the reaction conduit;   an outlet element adapted to remove a reaction product from the reaction conduit, wherein the outlet element is disposed at the second end of the reaction conduit; and   a pore burner arrangement that annularly surrounds the tubular boundary wall of the reaction conduit.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the pore burner arrangement supplies heat necessary for an endothermic reaction that occurs in the reaction conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the pore burner arrangement is thermally insulated outwardly. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the inlet element is an inlet lock. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the reaction conduit is oriented vertically with the first end at the top and the second end at the bottom. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a second outlet element adapted to remove a second reaction product from the reaction conduit, wherein the second outlet element is disposed towards the top of the reaction conduit.   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a second inlet element disposed towards the bottom of the reaction conduit and adapted to introduce superheated water vapor into the reaction conduit; and   a second outlet element disposed towards the top of the reaction conduit and adapted to remove a fuel gas from the reaction conduit.   
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the first inlet element is adapted to introduce a carbon-containing feed material into the reaction conduit, and wherein the first outlet element is adapted to remove a carbon-poor byproduct from the reaction conduit. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a second outlet element disposed towards the top of the reaction conduit and adapted to remove a fuel gas from the reaction conduit; and   a condenser coupled to the second outlet element and adapted to separate water vapor from the fuel gas.   
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the pore burner arrangement comprises a plurality of annular pore burner elements. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the annular pore burner elements are spaced along the reaction conduit at a distance from one another. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the tubular boundary wall of the reaction conduit is an outer boundary wall, wherein the reaction conduit further includes an inner tubular boundary wall, wherein the pore burner arrangement includes a first pore burner element on the outside of the outer boundary wall, and wherein the pore burner arrangement includes a second pore burner element on the inside of the inner tubular boundary wall but outside of the reaction conduit. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the outer boundary wall and the inner tubular boundary wall have circular cross sections and are arranged concentrically to one another. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a second inlet element disposed between the second end and the pore burner arrangement and adapted to receive superheated water vapor; and   a second outlet element disposed between the first end and the pore burner arrangement and adapted to expel fuel gas.   
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the inlet element is adapted to receive solid materials, and the outlet element is adapted to remove solid materials. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the pore burner arrangement is made of porous ceramic. 
     
     
         34 . A method comprising:
 heating a pore burner arrangement;   introducing a carbon-containing feed material into a reaction conduit through a first inlet element;   introducing superheated water vapor into the reaction conduit through a second inlet element;   removing a carbon-poor byproduct from the reaction conduit through a first outlet element; and   removing a fuel gas from the reaction conduit through a second outlet element, wherein the reaction conduit has a tubular boundary wall, a first end and a second end, wherein the first inlet element is disposed at the first end, wherein the first outlet element is disposed at the second end, and wherein the pore burner arrangement annularly surrounds the tubular boundary wall of the reaction conduit.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 supplying a portion of the fuel gas to the pore burner arrangement.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the reaction conduit is oriented vertically with the first end at the top and the second end at the bottom. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 separating water vapor from the fuel gas using a condenser coupled to the second outlet element.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the second inlet element is disposed between the second end and the pore burner arrangement, and wherein the second outlet element is disposed between the first end and the pore burner arrangement. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the heating the pore burner arrangement is performed through flameless combustion.