Process for the production of hydrogen-containing gases

Claim 2

A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN, WHICH COMPRISES: A. PREHEATING A VAPORIZED NORMALLY LIQUID HYDROCARBON FEEDSTICK HAVING A FINAL BOILING POINT AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OF NOT MORE THAN ABOUT 42*F. BY MIXING THE SAME WITH SUPERHEATED STEAM, B. CONTACTING THE RESULTING PREHEATED ADMIXTURE IN A FIRST CATALYTIC REFORMING ZONE WITH STEAM AND A REFORMING CATALYST UNDER CONDITIONS TO PRODUCE AN EFFLUENT GAS CONTAINING AT LEAST ABOUT 10 MOLE% METHANE (ONA DRY BASIS) TOGETHER WITH HYDROGEN AND CARBON OXIDES, C. CONTACTING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE REFORMING STAGE EFFLUENT GAS WITH ADDITIONAL STEAM AND A SECOND STEAM REFORMING CATALYST IN A SECOND REFORMING STAGE POSITIONED IN THE RADIANT SECTION OF A TUBULAR STEAM REFORMING FURNACE UNDEER CONDITIONS TO PRODUCE A HYDROGEN-RICH GAS, D. CONVERTING WATER TO SUPERHEATED STEAM IN THE CONVECTION SECTION OF SAID REFORMING FURNACE, E. PASSING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE RESULTING SUPERHEATED STEAM TO STEP (A), AND F. RECOVERING SAID HYDROGEN-RICH GAS FROM SAID SECOND REFORMING STAGE.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the first reformIng stage is maintained at a temperature in the range of about 700* to 1000* F., and a pressure in the range of about 250 to 550 psig.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the ratio of steam to carbon atom in the feed introduced into said first reforming stage ranges from about 1.5 to 4.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1, wherein said second reforming stage conditions include an inlet temperature in the range of about 700* to 1200*F. and an outlet temperature in the range of about 1300* to 1650*F.

Claim 6

The process of claim 4, wherein the outlet pressure of said second reforming stage is in the range of about 200 to 500 psig.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1, wherein said second reforming stage conditions include an inlet temperature in the range of about 900* to 1000*F. and an outlet temperature of about 1400* to 1550*F.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 wherein a mixture of said additional steam and said portion of first reforming stage effluent is introduced into said second reforming stage at a space velocity of 6000 volumes of mixture per hour per volume of catalyst.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1 wherein the ratio of steam to carbon atom of the first reforming stage effluent introduced into said second reforming stage is from about 3 to about 10.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon feed to the first reforming stage is a naphtha fraction having a final boiling point of not more than about 365*F.

Claim 11

The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon feed has been at least partially desulfurized prior to said preheating step.

Claim 12

A process for producing hydrogen, which comprises: a. preheating a vaporized normally liquid hydrocarbon feedstock having a final boiling point at atmospheric pressure of not more than about 420*F. by mixing the same with superheated steam; b. contacting the resulting preheated admixture in a first catalytic reforming zone with steam and a reforming catalyst at a temperature in the range of about 700* to 1000*F. and a pressure in the range of about 250 to 550 psig to produce an effluent gas containing at least about 10 mole percent methane (on a dry basis) together with hydrogen and carbon oxides; c. contacting at least a portion of the first reforming stage effluent gas with additional steam and a second steam reforming catalyst in a second reforming stage positioned in the radiant section of a tubular steam reforming furnace, said second reforming stage having an inlet temperature in the range of about 700* to 1200*F., an outlet temperature in the range of about 1300* to 1650*, and an outlet pressure in the range of about 200 to 500* psig, to produce a hydrogen-rich gas; d. converting water to superheated steam in the convection section of said reforming furnace; e. passing at least a portion of the resulting superheated steam to step (a), and f. recovering said hydrogen-rich gas from said second reforming stage.

Claim 13

A process for producing hydrogen, which comprises: a. preheating a vaporized normally liquid hydrocarbon feedstock having a final boiling point at atmospheric pressure of not more than about 420*F. by mixing the same with superheated steam; b. contacting the resulting preheated admixture in a first catalytic reforming zone with steam and a reforming catalyst at a temperature in the range of about 700* to 1000*F. and a pressure in the range of about 250 to 550 psig to produce an effluent gas containing at least about 10 mole percent methane (on a dry basis) together with hydrogen and carbon oxides; c. contacting at least a portion of the first reforming stage effluent gas with additional steam and a second steam reforming catalyst in a second reforming stage positioned in the radiant section of a tubular steam reforming furnace, said second reforming stage having an inlet temperature in the range of about 700* to 1200*F., an outlet temperature in the range of about 1300* to 1650*, and an outlet pressure in the range of about 200 to 500* psig, to produce a hydrogen-rich gas; d. converting water to superheated steam in the convection section of said reforming furnace; e. passing at least a portion of the resulting superheated steam to step (a), and f. recovering said hydrogen-rich gas from said second reforming stage.