US3866353A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for producing methane-rich gases from hydrocarbons
Assignee: GEA Group AG
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Filing: 1973-08-29
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1993-08-29
Abstract
Abstract Methane-rich gases are produced from naphtha or kerosene-type feedstocks having an upper boiling point of 250*C. The hydrocarbons are reacted with water vapor at elevated temperatures and pressures of from 15 to 100 atmospheres in the presence of a nickel-based catalyst in two reaction zones. In the first zone, 40-50 percent of preheated vaporized hydrocarbon is mixed and reacted with 80-90 percent of the water vapor required for the overall reaction. The product gas from the first reaction zone is cooled and mixed with the remaining vaporized hydrocarbons and the remaining water vapor and is then fed to the second reaction zone. The reaction conditions in both zones are such that the temperature of the catalyst in both zones is in the range 300*-500*C. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a catalyst which is 50 to 60 weight percent nickel on a magnesium spinel support.
Inventors
- 👤 Hagen Krumm
- 👤 Friedrich-Wilhelm Moeller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:51
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G11/00; C10G11/02; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/02; C01B3/32; C01B3/34; C01B3/38; C01B3/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
PROCESS FOR PRODUCING METHANE-RICH GASES BY REACTING VAPORIZED HYDROCARBONS OF THE NAPHTHA OR KEROSENE-TYPE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF SULPHUR COMPOUNDS AND HAVING AN UPPER BOILING POINT OF ABOUT 250*C WITH WATER VAPOR IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND UNDER A PRESSURE OF FROM 15 TO 100 ATMOSPHERES IN TWO REACTION ZONES, WHICH COMPRISES: I. FEEDING A MIXTURE OF 40-50 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF PREHEATED VAPORIZED HYDROCARBONS WITH 80-90 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF THE WATER VAPOR INTO A FIRST REACTION ZONE; II. COOLING THE PRODUCT GAS COMING FROM THE FIRST REACTION ZONE; III. THEREAFTER MIXING SAME WITH THE REMAINING 60-50 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF PREHEATED VAPORIZED HYDROCARBONS AND WITH THE REMAINING 20-10 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF THE WATER VAPOR AND FEEDING THE RESULTING MIXTURE TO A SECOND REACTION ZONE, THEREBY MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE CATALYST IN BOTH REACTION ZONES IN THE RANGE OF 300*-500*C; IV. THE OVERALL WATER VAPOR TO HYDROCARBONS WEIGHT RATIO BEING LESS THAN 1.4; AND V. THE CATALYST IN BOTH REACTION ZONES CONTAINING MORE THAN 50 UP TO 60 WEIGHT PERCENT NICKEL ON SPINAL (MGAL2O4) SUPPORT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
PROCESS FOR PRODUCING METHANE-RICH GASES BY REACTING VAPORIZED HYDROCARBONS OF THE NAPHTHA OR KEROSENE-TYPE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF SULPHUR COMPOUNDS AND HAVING AN UPPER BOILING POINT OF ABOUT 250*C WITH WATER VAPOR IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND UNDER A PRESSURE OF FROM 15 TO 100 ATMOSPHERES IN TWO REACTION ZONES, WHICH COMPRISES: I. FEEDING A MIXTURE OF 40-50 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF PREHEATED VAPORIZED HYDROCARBONS WITH 80-90 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF THE WATER VAPOR INTO A FIRST REACTION ZONE; II. COOLING THE PRODUCT GAS COMING FROM THE FIRST REACTION ZONE; III. THEREAFTER MIXING SAME WITH THE REMAINING 60-50 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF PREHEATED VAPORIZED HYDROCARBONS AND WITH THE REMAINING 20-10 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF THE WATER VAPOR AND FEEDING THE RESULTING MIXTURE TO A SECOND REACTION ZONE, THEREBY MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE CATALYST IN BOTH REACTION ZONES IN THE RANGE OF 300*-500*C; IV. THE OVERALL WATER VAPOR TO HYDROCARBONS WEIGHT RATIO BEING LESS THAN 1.4; AND V. THE CATALYST IN BOTH REACTION ZONES CONTAINING MORE THAN 50 UP TO 60 WEIGHT PERCENT NICKEL ON SPINAL (MGAL2O4) SUPPORT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process of claim 1 wherein said overall water vapor to hydrocarbons weIght ratio is between 1.3 and 1.0.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst in both reaction zones is maintained at a temperature between 350* and 500*C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Process of claim 1 wherein the pressure in both reaction zones is about 25-60 atmospheres.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Process of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon fed to the first reaction zone is of the naphtha-type and the hydrocarbon fed to the second reaction zone together with said product gas from the first reaction zone and water vapor is of the kerosene-type.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3415634A
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US3436358A
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US3420642A
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US3433610A
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US3791993A
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US3586621A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |