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US 2012/0059072 A1Published application
Systems and processes for processing hydrogen and carbon monoxide
AssigneeGTLpetrol LLC
InventorRodney J. Allam
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In various implementations, various feed gas streams which include hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be processed for conversion to product streams. For example, the feed gas stream may be processed using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Unconverted hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be recycled using an off-gas catalytic reformer and a gas turbine exhaust gas heat exchanger that will perform preheating duties.
Claims18
A process for producing higher molecular weight hydrocarbon compounds and/or oxygenates from a hydrocarbon gas comprising methane, said process comprising:
- generating an initial synthesis gas (“syngas”) stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a two-stage process by reaction of hydrocarbon gas comprising methane, steam and oxygen;
- generating oxygen in an air separation plant having an air compressor driven by a gas turbine.
- combusting a fuel gas in exhaust from the gas turbine in a fired heater to provide at least a portion of a heat duty for preheating feed streams to synthesis gas production units;
- catalytically converting synthesis gas to at least one of hydrocarbons or oxygenates in a process unit, at least a portion of the initial syngas stream is provided as feed gas to the process unit;
- separating off-gas from the syngas conversion process, the off-gas including unreacted syngas from the syngas feed stream, inerts, reaction products, CO2 and water vapour;
- generating additional synthesis gas in a catalytic steam/hydrocarbon reformer using the off-gas, a first part of the off-gas is used to provide at least a portion of the fuel gas for the reformer heating, and a second portion is used to provide at least a portion of the feed to the catalytic reformer mixed with steam;
- combining the additional syngas with the initial syngas to form a feed for the syngas catalytic conversion process;
- adding the combustion gas exiting the off-gas catalytic reformer furnace to the hot combustion gas used for process heating in the gas turbine exhaust fired heater;
- and
- adding the reformed synthesis gas stream leaving the off-gas catalytic reformer furnace to the initial syngas stream up-stream of a waste heat boiler producing high pressure steam for synthesis gas generation.
7 more elements
A system for producing higher molecular weight hydrocarbon compounds and/or oxygenates from a hydrocarbon gas comprising methane, said system comprising:
- synthesis gas production units that generate an initial synthesis gas (“syngas”) stream in a two stage process comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reaction of hydrocarbon gas comprising methane with steam and oxygen;
- an air separation plant that generates oxygen having an air compressor driven by a gas turbine;
- a fired heater that combusts exhaust from the gas turbine to provide at least a portion of the heat duty for preheating feed streams to the synthesis gas production units;
- a process unit that catalytically converts synthesis gas to at least one of hydrocarbons or oxygenates and separates off-gas from synthesis gas, at least a portion of the initial syngas stream is provided as feed gas, the off-gas including unreacted syngas from the syngas feed stream, inerts, reaction products, CO2 and water vapour;
- an off-gas catalytic steam/hydrocarbon reformer that generates additional synthesis gas using the off-gas, a first part of the off-gas is used to provide at least a portion of the fuel gas for the reformer heating, and a second portion is used to provide at least a portion of the feed to the catalytic reformer mixed with steam;
- a first outlet that combines the additional syngas with the initial syngas to form a feed for the syngas catalytic conversion process;
- a second outlet that adds the combustion gas exiting the off-gas catalytic reformer furnace to the hot combustion gas used for process heating in the gas turbine exhaust fired heater;
- and
- a third outlet that adds the reformed synthesis gas stream leaving the off-gas catalytic reformer furnace to the initial syngas stream up-stream of a waste heat boiler producing high pressure steam for synthesis gas generation.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.