On demand synthesis gas from methanol
AssigneeHaldor TopsøE A/S
InventorsPeter Mølgaard Mortensen, Robert Klein, Kasper Emil Larsen, Kim Aasberg-Petersen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reactor system and a process for carrying out the methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction of a feedstock comprising methanol to synthesis gas are provided, where the heat for the endothermic methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction is provided by resistance heating.
Claims11
A reactor system for production of synthesis gas from a feedstock comprising methanol in the presence of a catalyst under methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction conditions, said reactor system comprising:
- a supply of feedstock comprising methanol and water;
- a structured catalyst arranged for catalyzing methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reactions of said feedstock, said structured catalyst comprising a macroscopic structure of an electrically conductive material, said macroscopic structure supporting a ceramic coating, wherein said ceramic coating supports a catalytically active material;
- a pressure shell housing said structured catalyst, said pressure shell comprising an inlet for letting in said feedstock and an outlet for letting out product gas, wherein said inlet is positioned so that said feedstock enters said structured catalyst in a first end of said structured catalyst and said product gas exits said structured catalyst from a second end of said structured catalyst;
- a heat insulation layer between said structured catalyst and said pressure shell;
- at least two conductors electrically connected to said structured catalyst and to an electrical power supply placed outside said pressure shell, wherein said electrical power supply is dimensioned to heat at least part of said structured catalyst to a temperature of at least 500° C. by passing an electrical current through said macroscopic structure, 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 substantially to the second end of the structured catalyst and return to a second of said at least two conductors;
- an outlet for a first product gas comprising synthesis gas.
A process for carrying out the methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction of a feedstock comprising methanol and water to synthesis gas in the presence of a catalyst under methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction conditions, in a reactor system comprising a pressure shell housing a structured catalyst arranged for catalyzing said methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reactions of a feedstock, said structured catalyst comprising a macroscopic structure of electrically conductive material, said macroscopic structure supporting a ceramic coating, wherein said ceramic coating supports a catalytically active material;
- wherein said reactor system is provided with heat insulation between said structured catalyst and said pressure shell;
- said process comprising the steps of:
- pressurizing said feedstock,
- supplying said pressurized feedstock to said pressure shell through an inlet positioned so that said feedstock enters said structured catalyst in a first end of said structured catalyst;
- allowing the feedstock to undergo a methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift 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 substantially to the second end of the structured catalyst and return to a second of said at least two conductors, thereby heating at least part of the structured catalyst to a temperature sufficient for said feedstock to undergo the methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction over the structured catalyst, thereby heating at least part of the structured catalyst to a temperature sufficient for said feedstock to undergo the methanol cracking and reverse water gas shift reaction over the structured catalyst,
- outletting a first product gas comprising synthesis gas from the reactor system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.