Advanced smr reactor design featuring high thermal efficiency

Abstract

An improved reactor process is provided. This process includes providing at least one reactor tube, the reactor tube comprising an exterior and an interior, the interior comprising an inside surface, providing a heat source to the exterior of the at least one reactor tube, providing a reactant gas stream to the interior of the at least one reactor tube, placing at least one heat transfer structure in thermal contact with the inside surface of the at least one reactor tube, and transferring heat from the heat source to at least a portion of the reactant gas stream at least partially through the at least one heat transfer structure, thereby producing a product gas stream. There may be a catalyst on the interior of the at least one reactor tube. The reactant gas stream may comprise methane and steam.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.