Steam reforming catalyst and process

Abstract

A process for steam reforming in an autothermal or secondary reformer is described, comprising: (i) non-catalytically partially combusting a feed gas comprising a hydrocarbon with an oxygen-containing gas to form a partially combusted gas mixture and (ii) passing the partially combusted gas mixture through a catalyst bed comprising a first layer of a first particulate steam reforming catalyst and a second layer of a second particulate steam reforming catalyst, wherein the partially combusted gas mixture passes through the first layer and then the second layer, the second particulate steam reforming catalyst is an eggshell catalyst comprising nickel coated on a refractory support, and the first layer has a thickness in the range of 20 to 60% of the combined thickness of the first and second layers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.