Compositions – Gaseous compositions – Carbon-oxide and hydrogen containing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-30
2001-05-01
Richter, Johann (Department: 1621)
Compositions
Gaseous compositions
Carbon-oxide and hydrogen containing
C518S702000, C518S704000, C423S418200, C423S648100, C252S376000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224789
ABSTRACT:
The present invention is directed to the preparation of hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide rich synthesis gas by catalytic steam reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock. In particular, the invention is directed to certain improvements in the production of synthesis gas through parallel steam reforming of the feedstock in an autothermal reformer (ATR) and a heat exchange reformer; wherein a part of the feedstock is autothermally steam reformed in the ATR and remainder of the feedstock in the heat exchange reformer.
By the inventive process a part of the feedstock being catalytically steam reformed in the heat exchange reformer is passed through the reformer in heat conducting relationship with the hot reformed effluent stream from the ATR and is steam reformed effluent stream from a steam reforming catalyst arranged in the heat exchange reformer.
Both steam reformed effluent streams are then combined after having supplied heat to the steam reforming reactions proceeding in the heat exchange reformer in presence of a steam reforming catalyst.
When collecting the steam reformed effluent streams from the ATR and heat exchange reactor after passage through the heat exchange reactor as in the above inventive process, the pressure difference between tubes being provided with the catalyst in the heat exchange reactor and the tubes for withdrawing the steam reformed effluent stream from the reactor can be kept at minimum. As a result, the tubes have improved corrosion and dimension stability and may therefor be made from material with high chemical resistance and lower mechanical strength than in the conventional heat exchange reforming reactors.
In the process of the invention, the steam reforming catalyst arranged in the heat exchange reactor may be in form of a fixed bed or catalyzed hardware, such as the catalyst is applied as thin film on a metallic surface being in contact with the reacting feedstock.
Furthermore, the invention provides a reactor system for use in the above process. The reactor system comprises an autothermal reforming reactor and a heat exchange reactor connected in parallel at inlet side of the reactors and connected in series at outlet side of the autothermal reactor, wherein the heat exchange reactor is provided with at least one reformer tube in form of a double tube with an outer and an inner tube, the outer tube being provided with a reforming catalyst, the inner tube being adapted to withdraw an effluent stream of steam reformed feedstock from the outer tube, the outer tube being concentrically surrounded by a sleeve spaced apart the outer tube and being adapted to pass a hot steam reformed effluent stream from the autothermal reactor in heat conducting relationship with reacting feedstock in the outer tube by conducting the hot effluent stream in space between the sleeve and the outer tube; and
a collector upstream the heat exchange reactor for collecting the effluent streams from the heat exchange reactor.
In a specific embodiment of the invention, the reforming catalyst in the heat exchange reactor is applied to in form of a fixed bed between wall of the outer and inner tube or as a thin film on inner wall of the outer tube and/or outer wall of the inner tube.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4985231 (1991-01-01), Lywood
patent: 6077459 (2000-01-01), Laursen et al.
Haldor Topsoe A/S
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
Parsa J.
Richter Johann
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