Catalyst-containing reactor system with helically wound tubular assemblies

A tubular catalyst-containing reactor system, comprising:

• a housing;
• a vaporizer unit in the housing comprising a helically wound tubular assembly for receiving and at least partially vaporizing a liquid chemical reactant stream, wherein the helically wound tubular assembly of the vaporizer unit comprises an inner helical section and an outer helical section, the inner helical section being joined at one end thereof to an end of the outer helical section, the inner and outer helical sections being coaxially-aligned wherein the outer helical section at least partially surrounds the inner helical section such that the liquid chemical reactant stream flows in generally opposite directions through the inner and outer helical sections;
• a reformer unit in the housing for receiving a vaporized chemical reactant stream from the vaporizer unit, the reformer unit comprising a helically wound tubular assembly connected to and positioned coaxially relative to the helically wound tubular assembly of the vaporizer unit, the helically wound tubular assembly of the reformer unit containing a catalyst for catalyzing formation of a gas product stream from the vaporized chemical reactant stream;
• and
• a burner unit for heating the vaporizer unit and the reformer unit, the burner unit being generally centrally located relative to the helically wound tubular assemblies of the vaporizer unit and the reformer unit, the burner unit receiving a fuel stream and an air stream and producing a flame generally inside the helically wound tubular assemblies of the vaporizer unit and the reformer unit.