Tube and shell reactor with oxygen selective ion transport ceramic reaction tubes

A reactor comprising:

• a hollow shell defining a hermetic enclosure;
• a plurality of tube sheets disposed within said hermetic enclosure, a first one of said plurality of tube sheets defining a first chamber and a second chamber;
• at least one reaction tube each having a first end and an opposing second end, said first end of each reaction tube being fixedly attached and substantially hermetically sealed to one of said plurality of tube sheets and opening into said first chamber, the second end of each reaction tube being axially unrestrained;
• each of said reaction tubes is composed of an oxygen selective ion transport membrane with an anode side and a cathode side wherein said oxygen selective ion transport membrane is formed from a mixed conductor metal oxide that is effective for the transport of elemental oxygen at elevated temperatures;
• each of said reaction tubes includes a first and second heat transfer sections and a reaction section, said reaction section disposed between said first and second heat transfer sections;
• a reforming catalyst is disposed about an anode side of said oxygen selective ion transport membrane;
• at least a portion of both said first heat transfer portion and of said second heat transfer portion are formed of a ceramic material coated with a dense metallic layer;
• a first process gas inlet for the delivery of a first process gas to said hermetic enclosure at a first pressure;
• a second process gas inlet for the delivery of a second process gas to said hermetic enclosure at a second pressure;
• an inlet for delivery of an oxygen containing gas to said hermetic enclosure at a third pressure;
• and,
• a plurality of outlets for the removal of a product gas and reaction by-product gases from said hermetic enclosure.