Steam reforming hydrocarbons
First Claim
1. A process for producing a product gas stream containing hydrogen, carbon oxides, and methane by incomplete catalytic reaction of a hydrocarbon feedstock with steam and/or carbon dioxide comprising:
- passing a reactants stream containing a hydrocarbon feedstock steam and/or carbon dioxide over a catalyst disposed in an elongated zone having an inlet end and an outlet end, said elongated zone being defined by an outer wall and a wall of a tube, disposed within the outer wall and extending from the outlet end of the elongated zone to the inlet end thereof;
externally heating said elongated zone with a heating medium;
withdrawing a product gas stream containing hydrogen, carbon oxides and methane through said tube countercurrently to the flow of said reactants stream over the catalyst; and
cooling the product gas stream by at most 100°
C. by heat exchange with the reactants stream across the wall of said tube as the product gas stream passes through said tube thereby improving heat transfer between the heating medium and reactants stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process for producing a product gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon oxides by incomplete catalytic reaction of a hydrocarbon feedstock with steam and/or carbon dioxide. The process involves passing a reactants stream containing the feedstock and steam and/or carbon dioxide over a catalyst disposed in an elongated, externally heated, zone and withdrawing the product gas stream through a tube within that zone and countercurrently to the flow of the reactants stream over the catalyst. Heat exchange between the product gas stream and the reactants stream across the wall of the tube is limited so that the temperature of the product gas stream leaving the tube is less than that of the stream leaving the elongated zone by at most 100° C. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also disclosed.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A process for producing a product gas stream containing hydrogen, carbon oxides, and methane by incomplete catalytic reaction of a hydrocarbon feedstock with steam and/or carbon dioxide comprising:
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passing a reactants stream containing a hydrocarbon feedstock steam and/or carbon dioxide over a catalyst disposed in an elongated zone having an inlet end and an outlet end, said elongated zone being defined by an outer wall and a wall of a tube, disposed within the outer wall and extending from the outlet end of the elongated zone to the inlet end thereof; externally heating said elongated zone with a heating medium; withdrawing a product gas stream containing hydrogen, carbon oxides and methane through said tube countercurrently to the flow of said reactants stream over the catalyst; and cooling the product gas stream by at most 100°
C. by heat exchange with the reactants stream across the wall of said tube as the product gas stream passes through said tube thereby improving heat transfer between the heating medium and reactants stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A process for producing a product gas stream containing hydrogen, carbon oxides, and methane by incomplete catalytic reaction of a hydrocarbon feedstock with steam and/or carbon dioxide comprising:
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providing a reactants stream containing a hydrocarbon feedstock steam and/or carbon dioxide and passing this stream over a catalyst in an elongated reaction zone from an inlet end thereof to an outlet end thereof to form a product gas stream containing hydrogen, carbon oxides and methane; passing the resulting product gas stream from the outlet end of said reaction zone back past said reaction zone in countercurrent flow to said reactants stream and in indirect heat exchange relationship with said reactants stream so as to indirectly heat the reactants stream by the heat in said product gas stream, applying further heat to the reactant stream as it passes through the elongated reaction zone by an external heating medium, and maintaining insulation between the reactants stream and the product gas stream such that the product gas stream is cooled by at most 100°
C. by said indirect heat exchange thereby improving the efficiency of heat transfer between the external heating medium and the reactants stream.
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Specification