Combusting a hydrocarbon gas to produce a reformed gas
First Claim
1. A process for reforming a hydrocarbon gas comprising:
- a) providing a primary hydrocarbon gas divided into a first portion and a second portion and feeding a primary air and said first portion of said primary hydrocarbon gas to a combustion zone of a primary combustor having a reforming zone downstream of said combustion zone;
b) combusting said primary air and said first portion of said primary hydrocarbon gas in said combustion zone to produce a primary combustion gas;
c) feeding said primary combustion gas and said second portion of said primary hydrocarbon gas to said reforming zone and reacting said primary combustion gas therein to produce a reformed gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
d) driving a primary power turbine with said reformed gas;
e) driving a primary compressor with said primary power turbine; and
f) compressing a feed air in said primary compressor to produce said primary air.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and process are provided for converting a hydrocarbon gas to a reformed gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. In accordance with a first embodiment, the system includes a primary combustor, compressor and power turbine. The process is practiced by compressing a feed air in the primary compressor to produce a primary air. The primary air is fed with a primary hydrocarbon gas to the primary combustor, producing a reformed gas that drives the primary power turbine. The primary power turbine is linked to the primary compressor, compressing the feed air in an energy self-sufficient manner. In a second embodiment, the system of the first embodiment further includes a secondary combustor, compressor and power turbine. The process is practiced in the same manner as the first embodiment, producing the reformed gas and driving the primary power turbine and compressor. A portion of the primary air is also fed with a secondary hydrocarbon gas to the secondary combustor, producing an off-gas that drives the secondary power turbine and compressor to compress a gas in an energy self-sufficient manner. In a third embodiment, the system is substantially the same as the second embodiment, but reconfigures the compressors and power turbines and further includes an auxiliary secondary power turbine. The process is practiced in the same manner as the first embodiment, producing the reformed gas and driving the primary power turbine and compressor. The off-gas is produced in the same manner as the second embodiment to drive the secondary power turbine, but the secondary power turbine drives an auxiliary primary compressor, compressing the feed air ahead of the primary compressor in an energy self-sufficient manner. The off-gas further drives the auxiliary secondary power turbine to provide additional power for alternate power users.
109 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A process for reforming a hydrocarbon gas comprising:
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a) providing a primary hydrocarbon gas divided into a first portion and a second portion and feeding a primary air and said first portion of said primary hydrocarbon gas to a combustion zone of a primary combustor having a reforming zone downstream of said combustion zone; b) combusting said primary air and said first portion of said primary hydrocarbon gas in said combustion zone to produce a primary combustion gas; c) feeding said primary combustion gas and said second portion of said primary hydrocarbon gas to said reforming zone and reacting said primary combustion gas therein to produce a reformed gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide; d) driving a primary power turbine with said reformed gas; e) driving a primary compressor with said primary power turbine; and f) compressing a feed air in said primary compressor to produce said primary air. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 25)
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12. A process for reforming a hydrocarbon gas comprising:
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a) compressing a feed air in a primary compressor to produce a primary air; b) dividing said primary air into a first portion and a second portion and dividing a primary hydrocarbon into a first portion and a second portion; c) combusting said first portion of said primary air and said first portion of said primary hydrocarbon gas in a combustion zone of a primary combustor having a reforming zone downstream of said combustion zone to produce a primary combustion gas; d) feeding said primary combustion gas and said second portion of said primary hydrocarbon gas to said reforming zone and reacting said primary combustion gas therein to produce a reformed gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide; e) driving a primary power turbine with said reformed gas; f) driving said primary compressor with said primary power turbine; g) feeding said second portion of said primary air as a secondary air to a secondary combustor with a secondary hydrocarbon gas; h) reacting said secondary hydrocarbon gas and said secondary air in said secondary combustor to produce an off-gas containing carbon dioxide and water; i) driving a secondary power turbine with said off-gas; and j) driving a secondary compressor with said secondary power turbine. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 26, 27, 28)
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17. A process for reforming a hydrocarbon gas comprising:
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a) compressing a feed air in an auxiliary primary compressor to produce an intermediate air; b) compressing said intermediate air in a primary compressor to produce a primary air; c) dividing said primary air into a first portion and a second portion and dividing a primary hydrocarbon into a first portion and a second portion; d) combusting said first portion of said primary air and said first portion of said primary hydrocarbon gas in a combustion zone of a primary combustor having a reforming zone downstream of said combustion zone to produce a primary combustion gas; e) feeding said primary combustion gas and said second portion of said primary hydrocarbon gas to said reforming zone and reacting said primary combustion gas therein to produce a reformed gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide; f) driving a primary power turbine with said reformed gas; g) driving said primary compressor with said primary power turbine; h) feeding said second portion of said primary air as a secondary air to a secondary combustor with a secondary hydrocarbon gas; i) reacting said secondary hydrocarbon gas and said secondary air in said secondary combustor to produce an off-gas containing carbon dioxide and water; j) driving a secondary power turbine with said off-gas; and k) driving said auxiliary primary compressor with said secondary power turbine. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification