# US 11,999,618 B2 · Method and reactor for producing synthesis gas from a carbon and hydrogen source in the presence of an oxy flame

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- Number: US 11,999,618 B2
- Document ID: US11999618B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/007,973
- Filed: 2021-06-03
- Published: 2023-08-10
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-04
- Assignees: Hydro-Quebec
- Applicants: Hydro-QuéBec
- Inventors: Raynald Labrecque; Robert Schulz; Michel Vienneau; Germain Larocque
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999618B2

## CPC

- B01J 19/244: {Concentric tubes}
- C01B 3/363: characterised by the burner
- B01J 4/002: {Nozzle-type elements (nozzle-type reactors B01J19/26)}
- B01J 19/0006: {Controlling or regulating processes (controlling or regulating in general G05)}
- B01J 19/0013: {Controlling the temperature of the process}
- B01J 19/2415: {Tubular reactors}
- C01B 3/02: Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen
- C01B 3/12: by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide
- C01B 3/36: using oxygen; using mixtures containing oxygen as gasifying agents
- C10G 2/32: {with the use of catalysts}
- C10G 2/34: {Apparatus, reactors}
- C10G 47/22: Non-catalytic cracking in the presence of hydrogen
- C10K 3/008: {by cracking}
- C10K 3/026: {Increasing the carbon monoxide content, e.g. reverse water-gas shift [RWGS]}
- B01J 2219/00155: using insulating materials or refractories
- B01J 2219/00157: by means of a burner
- B01J 2219/00159: controlling multiple zones along the direction of flow, e.g. pre-heating and after-cooling
- B01J 2219/00164: controlling the flow
- C01B 2203/0238: the reforming step being a carbon dioxide reforming step
- C01B 2203/0255: containing a non-catalytic partial oxidation step
- C01B 2203/0283: containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step
- C01B 2203/0822: the fuel containing hydrogen
- C01B 2203/1241: Natural gas or methane
- Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
- Y02P 20/141: Feedstock
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
- C10K: PURIFYING OR MODIFYING THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

The technology relates to a method of producing synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), wherein the synthesis gas is produced by a reduction reaction of a first flow comprising a carbon source and an excess of hydrogen in contact with an Oxy-flame. The hydrogen comes from a reducing stream, a first portion of which ends up in the first flow, and a second part of which is used to generate the Oxy-flame by combustion of the hydrogen in the presence of a second flow comprising oxygen (O2), the second flow coming from an oxidizing stream. The first flow and the second flow are at a distance from each other such that the Oxy-flame supports the reaction between the carbon source and the hydrogen. A reactor, which can have different configurations, is also proposed for implementing the method.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of producing synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), wherein the synthesis gas is produced by a reduction reaction of a first flow comprising a carbon source and an excess of hydrogen in contact with an Oxy-flame, and wherein:
the hydrogen comes from a reducing stream, a first part of which ends up in the first flow and a second part is used to generate the Oxy-flame by combustion of hydrogen in the presence of a second flow comprising oxygen (O2), the second flow coming from an oxidizing stream,
the first flow and the second flow are at a distance from each other such that the Oxy-flame supports the reaction between the carbon source and the hydrogen,
the distance between the first flow and the second flow is comprised between 0.1 mm and 100 mm,
the carbon source comprises at least CO2, and
the reduction reaction is carried out in the absence of solid catalyst.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the Oxy-flame generates ionic species and free radicals which promote the conversion of the carbon source to CO.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon source is CO2 or comprises CO2 in combination with:
at least one type of oxygenated molecules of formula CαHβOγ wherein α is between 1 and 5, β is between 2 and 10 and γ is between 1 and 4;
one or more hydrocarbons; or
a mixture thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction reaction comprises a reverse reaction of gas to water or “Reverse Water Gas Shift”.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the reducing stream is hydrogen.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the reducing stream comprises hydrogen and the carbon source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the reducing stream comprises hydrogen and the carbon source comprising at least CO2.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the oxidizing stream is oxygen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the oxidizing stream comprises oxygen and the carbon source the carbon source comprising at least CO2.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the reducing stream comprises only hydrogen, the oxidizing stream comprises only oxygen and the carbon source is supplied by an independent stream.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the independent stream comprises CO2 or the independent stream comprises CO2 and methane.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the oxygen comes from a water electrolysis reaction and/or the hydrogen comes from a water electrolysis reaction and/or the carbon source comes from a gas mixture resulting from a biomass gasification or pyrolysis process.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction reaction is carried out at an average temperature of at least 600° C.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the first flow and the second flow is comprised between 0.3 mm and 50 mm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction reaction is carried out using an H2/CO2 molar ratio of between 2 and 7.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction reaction is carried out using an O2/CO2 molar ratio of between 0.35 and 0.9.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction reaction is carried out using an O2/H2 molar ratio of between 0.1 and 0.3.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon source is CO2, or comprises CO2 and at least one hydrocarbon.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon source is CO2.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the carbon source comprises CO2 and methane.