Manufacture of synthesis gas

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A MIXTURE OF HYDROGEN AND NITROGEN IN THE APPROXIMATE PROPORTIONS OF THREE VOLUMES OF HYDROGEN PER VOLUME OF NITROGEN, WHICH COMPRISES, IN COMBINATION, REACTING A GASIFORM HYDROCARBON WITH STEAM AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE ABOUT 1200*F. IN A REFORMING STEP IN CONTACT WITH A CATALYST EFFECTIVE FOR CONVERSION OF THE HYDROCARBON AND STEAM DIRECTLY INTO CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN UNDER CONDITIONS SUCH THAT SAID HYDROCARBON IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY CONVERTED WITH THE STEAM INTO CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN, REACTING A HYDROCARBON NON-CATALYSTICALLY WITH AIR AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE ABOUT 2,250*F. IN RELATIVE PROPORTIONS SUCH THAT SAID HYDROCARBON IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY CONVERTED TO APPROXIMATELY MAXIMUM QUANTITIES OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN PRODUCING A MIXTURE OF NITROGEN, HYDROGEN, AND CARBON OXIDES; BLENDING THE PRODUCTS OF REACTION FROM SAID AIR-HYDROCARBON REACTION WITH THE PRODUCTS OF REACTION FROM SAID HYDROCARBON-STEAM REFORMING REACTION WITHOUT THE ADDITION OF AIR THERETO IN RELATIVE PROPORTIONS SUCH THAT THE RESULTING MIXTURE COMPRISES APPROXIMATELY THREE VOLUMES OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN PER VOLUME OF NITROGEN; CONVERTING CARBON MONOXIDE IN SAID MIXTURE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY TO CARBON DIOXIDE BY REACTION WITH STEAM CONCOMITANTLY PRODUCING HYDROGEN; AND REMOVING STEAM, CARBON DIOXIDE AND RESIDUAL CARBON MONOXIDE FROM THE GAS STEAM THEREBY PRODUCING A GASEOUS MIXTURE OF HYDROGEN AND NITROGEN CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY THREE VOLUMES OF HYDROGEN PER VOLUME OF NITROGEN.