US4981676A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catalytic ceramic membrane steam/hydrocarbon reformer
Assignee: MEDALERT Inc A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1989-11-13
•
Granted: 1991-01-01
•
Expires: 2009-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A diffusion process for steam reforming of a hydrocarbon to produce H 2 , CO and CO 2 , that includes: providing a generally tubular, porous, ceramic membrane, and providing a heated reaction zone in a container into which the membrane is received; the membrane carrying a catalytically active metallic substance; passing a hydrocarbon and steam containing first fluid stream into the zone and into contact with one side of the membrane, to produce CO, CO 2 and H 2 ; and passing a second fluid stream adjacent the opposite side of the membrane in such manner as to promote hydrogen diffusion through the membrane from said one side to said opposite side thereof; and removing hydrogen from the opposite side of the membrane.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald G. Minet
- 👤 Theodore T. Tsotsis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:22
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/02; C01B3/32; C01B3/323; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/24; B01J19/2475; B01J8/00; B01J8/008; B01J8/009; C01B3/34; C01B3/38; C01B3/384; C01B3/50; C01B3/501; B01J2208/00; B01J2208/00008; B01J2208/00017; B01J2208/00026; B01J2208/00035; B01J2208/00044; B01J2208/00061; B01J2208/00477; B01J2208/00495; B01J2208/00504; B01J2208/0053; C01B2203/00; C01B2203/02; C01B2203/0205; C01B2203/0227; C01B2203/0233; C01B2203/04; C01B2203/0405; C01B2203/041; C01B2203/0415; C01B2203/042; C01B2203/0465; C01B2203/0475; C01B2203/06; C01B2203/061; C01B2203/068; C01B2203/08; C01B2203/0805; C01B2203/0811; C01B2203/0816; C01B2203/0872; C01B2203/0888; C01B2203/0894; C01B2203/10; C01B2203/1005; C01B2203/1011; C01B2203/1041; C01B2203/1047; C01B2203/1052; C01B2203/1082; C01B2203/12; C01B2203/1205; C01B2203/1211; C01B2203/1217; C01B2203/1223; C01B2203/1229; C01B2203/1235; C01B2203/1241; C01B2203/1247; C01B2203/14; C01B2203/146; C01B2203/16; C01B2203/1614; C01B2203/1619; C01B2203/80; C01B2203/84
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
The process for steam reforming of a hydrocarbon to produce H 2 , CO and CO 2 , that includes: (a) providing a generally tubular, porous, catalytic ceramic membrane, and providing a heated reaction zone in a container extending annularly about said membrane, (b) said membrane carrying a catalytically active metallic substance, (c) passing a first fluid stream of hydrocarbon and steam into said zone and into contact with one side of said catalytic ceramic membrane, to produce CO 2 , CO and H 2 , (d) and passing a second fluid stream comprising steam adjacent to said opposite side of said membrane in such manner as to promote hydrogen diffusion through said membrane from said one side to the opposite side thereof, (e) and removing hydrogen from said opposite side of said membrane in said second stream of steam, (f) maintaining a heated, porous catalytic bed extending lengthwise adjacent said membrane, in said zone, transferring heat into said bed lengthwise thereof and via said container, and passing said first stream into said bed for flow in contact with the bed and heating therein followed by first stream contact said one side of the membrane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
The process for steam reforming of a hydrocarbon to produce H 2 , CO and CO 2 , that includes: (a) providing a generally tubular, porous, catalytic ceramic membrane, and providing a heated reaction zone in a container extending annularly about said membrane, (b) said membrane carrying a catalytically active metallic substance, (c) passing a first fluid stream of hydrocarbon and steam into said zone and into contact with one side of said catalytic ceramic membrane, to produce CO 2 , CO and H 2 , (d) and passing a second fluid stream comprising steam adjacent to said opposite side of said membrane in such manner as to promote hydrogen diffusion through said membrane from said one side to the opposite side thereof, (e) and removing hydrogen from said opposite side of said membrane in said second stream of steam, (f) maintaining a heated, porous catalytic bed extending lengthwise adjacent said membrane, in said zone, transferring heat into said bed lengthwise thereof and via said container, and passing said first stream into said bed for flow in contact with the bed and heating therein followed by first stream contact said one side of the membrane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 including removing CO 2 , CO and H 2 O from said zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
The process of claim 2 wherein (i) said first stream containing said hydrocarbon and steam is introduced to said reaction zone at a point A along the length of said catalytic ceramic membrane, (ii) said second stream containing steam is introduced into a region surrounded by the catalytic ceramic membrane at a point B along the length of said membrane, (iii) with the produced hydrogen being removed from the region at a point C along the length of said membrane, and (iv) and the produced CO, CO 2 and H 2 O being removed from said reaction zone at a point D along the length of said membrane, (v) wherein point A is juxtaposed relative to point B, point C is downstream of point B and point D is downstream of point A.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 3 including locating said points C and D in spaced relation along the length of the membrane from said points A and B.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 4 including locating said points A and B proximate same end of the tubular membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon consists essentially of light hydrocarbons having 1-4 carbon atoms in each molecule.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said first stream includes methane and steam in a 1:2 to 1:5 weight ratio.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said first stream also includes 5% to 10% by volume hydrogen, and said first stream is at pressure between about 15 psia and about 2,000 psia.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said catalytically active metallic substance consists essentially of nickel and alkali metal salt or salts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 including pellets of said catalytically active substance in said zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said container consists of a stainless steel tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 including maintaining said container at elevated temperatures sufficient to cause heat radiation from the container toward the ceramic tube, and a temperature or temperatures at the tube of between 300° and 750° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon is selected from the group that consists of methane, methanol, ethane, ethanol, propane, and butane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 3 including operating burners for transferring heat through said container into said bed, between said points A and D, said container being metallic and being maintained in contact with the bed, the bed consisting of pelleted catalyst.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3923466A
Cited
US3940285A
Cited
US4298588A
Cited
US4213954A
Cited
US4329157A
Cited
US4618451A
Cited
US4592903A
Cited
US4713234A
Cited
US4620914A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-31 | 1994-07-02 | 1995-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-31 | 1998-07-02 | 1999-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-31 | 2002-07-02 | 2003-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |