US 12,403,439 B2 · Electrically heated reforming reactor for reforming of methane and other hydrocarbons

Abstract

Electrically heated reforming reactors and associated reforming processes are disclosed, which benefit from a number of advantages in terms of attaining and controlling the input of heat to catalytic conversion processes such as in the reforming of hydrocarbons (e.g., methane) using H2O and/or CO2 as an oxidant. The disclosed reactors provide the ability to target the input of heat to specific regions within a catalyst bed volume. This allows for the control of the temperature profile in one or more dimensions (e.g., axially and/or radially) and/or otherwise tailoring heat input for processing specific reformer feeds, achieving specific reformer products, effectively utilizing the catalyst, and/or compensating for a number of operating parameters (e.g., flow distribution). Dynamic control of the heat input may be used in response to changes in feed or product composition and/or catalyst activity.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A process for producing a synthesis gas product, the process comprising contacting a reformer feed comprising both (i) a hydrocarbon and (ii) H2O and/or CO2 with a catalyst that is disposed in a catalyst bed volume having a plurality of inductive heating elements extending partly or completely therethrough and configured for inductive heating from an alternating magnetic field provided by an energy source,

wherein said plurality of inductive heating elements include individualheating elements or groups of heating elements that are independently controllable for generating different amounts of heat at different radial positions or different axial positions within the catalyst bed volume,
the process further comprising:
causing said individual heating elements or groups of heating elements to generate said different amounts of heat to the catalyst at said different radial positions, or
causing said individual heating elements or groups of heating elements to generate said different amounts of heat to the catalyst at said different axial positions, and
following said contacting, withdrawing the synthesis gas product.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrically heated reforming reactor for reforming of methane and other hydrocarbons

Life of this patent

Electrically heated reforming reactor for reforming of methane and other hydrocarbons

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20