Process for producing high strength reducing gas

Claim 2

A process according to claim 1, wherein the mixture of hydrocarbon and steam is introduced into the gasification reactor at a temperature of a least 660*F.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 wherein gasification is carried out under a pressure of from 100 psig. to 650 psig.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 1, wherein carbon dioxide removal is effected by solvent absorption.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 5, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, potassium promoted carbonate solution and unpromoted potassium carbonate solution.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 1, wherein the gas is heated to a temperature of from 600* to 1,200*F before reforming in step (c).

Claim 7

A process according to claim 1 wherein the gas leaves the reformer in step (c) at a temperature of from 1,650* to 2,100*F.

Claim 8

A process according to claim 1, wherein the reforming in step (c) is carried out under a pressure of from atmospheric pressure to 250 psig.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 1 wherein the reforming catalyst in the reforming reactor comprises an alkali metal promoted nickel catalyst in the inlet zone of the reformer and an unpromoted nickel catalyst in the outlet zone of the reformer.

Claim 10

A process according to claim 5 wherein a hydrogen-containing stream from said solvent absorption step is employed in a hydrodesulfurization of said hydrocarbon feedstock prior to the gasification step.

Claim 11

A process according to claim 5 wherein a CO2-containing stream from the solvent absorption step is recycled with a hydrogen-containing stream and employed in a hydrodesulfurization of said hydrocarbon feedstock prior to the gasification step.

Claim 12

A process for producing a reducing gas suitable for the direct reduction of metallic ores, comprising the steps of: a. vaporizing a hydrocarbon feedstock selected from the group consisting of liquid naphtha, liquefied propane, liquefied butane and mixtures thereof; b. gasifying the vaporized hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of steam in a bed of reforming catalyst in a fixed-bed gasification reactor to produce an effluent stream comprising methane, hydrogen, carbon oxides and steam; c. removing carbon dioxide from said effluent stream by solvent absorption; d. reforming the purified effluent stream from step (c) in a tubular reactor in the presence of about 1.1 to about 1.4 Mols of steam per atom of carbon in said purified effluent stream and in the presence of a catalyst comprising nickel on a support material at an inlet temperature in the range of from about 600*F to about 1,200*F; e. recovering from step (d) a high strength reducing gas containing at least 90 percent hydrogen plus carbon monoxide and less than 10 percent water and carbon dioxide; f. passing said reducing gas at an exit temperature in the range of from about 1,650*F to about 1,200*F to a unit for reducing metallic ores.