Reactor expander topping cycle

Claim 1

A process for producing mechanical work from a reactive gas stream comprising the steps of: selecting said reactive gas stream from a synthesis process which yields a gas stream containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane; feeding said reactive gas stream at a first temperature and under pressure to a catalytic reactor containing suitable catalyst; reacting the reactive gas stream in one or more reactors without O 2 and using at least one exothermic reaction to produce a second gas stream at a second, higher temperature than the temperature of the first gas stream; maintaining the second gas stream at substantially the second higher temperature; passing the second gas steam from the one or more reactors to the inlet of an expansion turbine without a substantial change in temperature; and expanding the second gas stream in the turbine to produce mechanical work from the turbine.