Production of hydrogen-rich synthesis gas

Abstract

Abstract A GASEOUS HYDROCARBON SUCH AS METHANE OR VAPORIZED NAPHTHA IS PASSED THROUGH A FIRST FLUID BED OF HOT SOLID PARTICULATE MATERIAL AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE 700*C., TO CRACK A PORTION OF THE HYDROCARBON STREAM INTO HYDROGEN AND SOLID FREE CARBON, WITH CONCOMITANT DEPOSITION OF THE FREE CARBON WHICH MAY COAT THE SOLID PARTICLES, AND THE FORMATION OF A GASEOUS MIXTURE OF HYDROGEN AND RESIDUAL GASEOUS HYDROCARBON. STEAM IS ADDED TO THE GASEOUS MIXTURE, AND THE COMBINED GASEOUS MIXTURE IS PASSED THROUGH A SECOND FLUID BED AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE 850*C., TO REACT RESIDUAL GASEOUS HYDROCARBON WITH STEAM AND FORM FURTHER HYDROGEN AND CARBON MONOXIDE. A PRODUCT HYDROGEN-RICH SYNTHESIS GAS STREAM PRINCIPALLY CONTAINING HYDROGEN, CARBON MONOXIDE AND STEAM IS REMOVED FROM THE SECOND BED. A STREAM OF HOT SOLID PARTICULATE MATERIAL IS PASSED FROM THE SECOND BED TO THE FIRST BED, TO MAINTAIN A TEMPERATURE LEVEL ABOVE 700*C. IN THE FIRST BED; AND A CORRESPONDING STREAM OF SOLID PARTICULATE MATERIAL CONTAINING DEPOSITED AND ENTRAINED SOLID CARBON IS REMOVED FROM THE FIRST BED AND PASSED TO A THIRD BED IN A STREAM OF AIR, WHICH MAY REACT WITH THE CARBON TO PRODUCE TEMPERATURE RISE. IN THE THIRD BED, THE SOLID PARTICULATE MATERIAL IS REHEATED TO A TEMPERATURE ABOVE 1000*C., BY COMBUSTION OF A FLUID HYDROCARBON FUEL AND DEPOSITED OR ENTRAINED SOLID CARBON WITH AIR IN THE BED. A THIRD STREAM OF REHEATED SOLID PARTICULATE MATERIAL IS PASSED FROM THE THIRD BED TO THE SECOND BED, TO MAINTAIN THE SECOND BED AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE 850*C. AND COMPENSATE FOR THE STREAM OF MATERIAL PASSED FROM THE SECOND BED TO THE FIRST BED. THE AIR STREAM USED TO PASS SOLID PARTICULATE MATERIAL FROM THE FIRST BED TO THE THIRD BED REACTS WITH DEPOSITED SOLID CARBON TO FORM A GASEOUS PHASE CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE AND NITROGEN. WHEN THE PROCESS IS EMPLOYED TO PRODUCE AMMONIA SYNTHESIS GAS, THIS GASEOUS PHASE IS SEPARATED FROM THE SOLID PARTICLES AND COMBINED WITH THE MAIN PRODUCT HYDROGEN-RICH SYNTHESIS GAS, TO FORM A COMBINED GAS STREAM SUITABLE FOR CONVERSION TO AMMONIA SYNTHESIS GAS.

Inventors

• 👤 Samuel Strelzoff
• 👤 John M Connor
• 👤 Herbert C Morgenstern

Bibliographic Details