| abstract |
The present invention relates to methods for gas phase reactant catalyticnreactions. In particular the present invention relates to a method ofnhydrocarbon steam reforming, comprising:n passing a reactant stream comprising steam and hydrocarbon into atnleast one reaction chamber; n wherein the reaction chamber has an internal volume havingndimensions of chamber height, chamber width and chamber length; n wherein the chamber has a length of greater than 1 cm; n wherein the chamber height or chamber width is 2 mm or less; n wherein the reaction chamber is in thermal contact through a reactionnchamber wall with an exothermic reaction chamber; n transferring heat from the exothermic reaction chamber to the reactionnchamber through the reaction chamber wall at a rate such that heat fluxnbetween the reaction chamber and the exothermic reaction chamber is at leastn0.6 W per cubic centimeter of the reaction chamber wall; n wherein the method is controlled under conditions such that thenhydrocarbon has a contact time of less than 300 ms; n wherein the reactant stream is converted to a product stream; and n wherein at least 70% of the equilibrium conversion of thenhydrocarbon entering the reaction chamber is converted to hydrogen, carbonnmonoxide or carbon dioxide. |