Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Chemical reactor – Including solid – extended surface – fluid contact reaction...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-18
2001-10-30
Knode, Marian C. (Department: 1764)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Chemical reactor
Including solid, extended surface, fluid contact reaction...
C095S045000, C095S054000, C422S239000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309612
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a ceramic membrane reactor for contacting two reactant gases at different pressures when separated by an oxygen permeable membrane to produce syngas.
2. Background of the Invention
There is considerable interest in converting natural gas, which is mainly methane, into syngas (CO and H
2
) which can be further converted into liquid fuels or other valuable chemicals. One process involves reacting oxygen from an oxygen containing gas stream with a hydrocarbon compound in another gas stream without diluting the hydrocarbon or products of oxidation with other gases from the oxygen containing gas stream such as nitrogen from an air stream.
The partial oxidation of natural gas to produce syngas requires an oxygen plant which makes the cost prohibitive in most situations. One way around this is to use a ceramic oxygen separating membrane which will allow atmospheric oxygen to permeate through the membrane while excluding other gases. In a syngas plant, a reactor made of this ceramic material would transport oxygen from the side in contact with atmospheric air to the other side in contact with the natural gas.
Natural gas, as it comes from the well head is at considerable pressure, i.e. around 500-1500 psi. Since ceramic membranes can fracture under pressure, it is necessary to either offset the high pressure gas on one side of the membrane with high pressure air on the other side of the membrane or to reduce the pressure of the gas to match the pressure of the air in order to prevent membrane failure. When the ceramic membrane is subjected to a compressive pressure, i.e. an external force, then the membrane maintains its integrity. High pressure air requires an expensive air compressor which negates the advantage of operating without a cryogenic oxygen separation plant. Depressurizing the natural gas would be a disadvantage since after the syngas is produced it would have to be repressurized for further processing to value added products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a ceramic membrane reactor for the production of syngas which allows a differential pressure to exist in the reactor.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a ceramic membrane reactor in which the oxygen laden air travels parallel to the methane or natural gas.
It is another objective of the invention to provide a ceramic membrane reactor which minimizes the number of seals between the parts.
It is another object of the invention to reduce the stress on the individual ceramic slabs.
Briefly, the invention is a ceramic membrane reactor for syngas production having a reaction chamber, an inlet in the reaction chamber for natural gas intake, a plurality of oxygen permeating ceramic slabs inside the reaction chamber with each slab having a plurality of passages paralleling the gas flow for transporting air through the reaction chamber, a manifold affixed to one end of the reaction chamber for intake of air connected to the slabs, a second manifold affixed to an opposing end of the reactor for removing the oxygen depleted air, and an outlet in the reaction chamber for removing syngas.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4791079 (1988-12-01), Hazbun
patent: 5032365 (1991-07-01), Aono et al.
patent: 5356728 (1994-10-01), Balachandran et al.
patent: 5580497 (1996-12-01), Balachandran
patent: 5599510 (1997-02-01), Kaminsky et al.
patent: 5639437 (1997-06-01), Balachandran
Balachandran Uthamalingam
Mieville Rodney L.
Alwan Joy
Anderson Thomas G.
Caress Virginia B.
Knode Marian C.
The United States of America as represented by the United States
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