Steam reforming heated by resistance heating

A process for carrying out steam reforming of a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons in a reactor system comprising a pressure shell housing a structured catalyst arranged to catalyze steam reforming of a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons, said structured catalyst comprising a macroscopic structure of an electrically conductive material, said macroscopic structure supporting a ceramic coating, where said ceramic coating supports a catalytically active material and wherein said reactor system is provided with heat insulation between said structured catalyst and said pressure shell;

• said process comprising the following steps:
• pressurizing a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons to a pressure of at least 5 bar,
• supplying said pressurized feed gas to said pressure shell through an inlet positioned so that said feed gas enters said structured catalyst in a first end of said structured catalyst;
• allowing the feed gas to undergo steam reforming reaction over the structured catalyst and outletting a product gas from said pressure shell, wherein said product gas exits said structured catalyst from a second end of said structured catalyst;
• supplying electrical power via electrical conductors connecting an electrical power supply placed outside said pressure shell to said structured catalyst, allowing an electrical current to run through said macroscopic structure, thereby heating at least part of the structured catalyst to a temperature of at least 500° C., wherein said at least two conductors are connected to the structured catalyst at a position on the structured catalyst closer to said first end of said structured catalyst than to said second end of said structured catalyst, and wherein the structured catalyst is constructed to direct an electrical current to run from one conductor to the second end of the structured catalyst and return to a second of said at least two conductors.