Process and apparatus for hydrogen production

Claim 1

A process for producing hydrogen under pressure by means of chemical reactions between hydrocarbons and water vapor with a reduced requirement of hydrocarbons and energy, said process comprising the steps of: applying to one end of a reaction vessel a feedstock having hydrocarbons and water vapor therein; conducting the feedstock through a plurality of pipes containing a reaction catalyst; and heating the feedstock to the reaction temperature and supplying heat necessary for an endothermic reaction, said heating step comprising the steps of: circulating the products of the endothermic reaction in heat exchange relationship with the pipes within the reaction vessel to recover the sensible heat of the reaction products; and electrically heating the reacting gases in a portion of the reaction vessel spaced from the one end thereof after said circulating step and after the reaction has begun to complete the endothermic reaction within the reaction vessel and to raise the temperature of the gaseous reaction products to allow the recovery of the sensible heat thereof in said circulating step.