Steam reforming process

The method of steam reforming a charge hydrocarbon which comprises

• passing a mixture of steam and charge hydrocarbon into contact with a steam reforming catalyst at steam reforming reaction conditions including temperature of 800.degree.-1100.degree. F. and pressure of 0-100 psig for 30-180 seconds during which time the activity of the steam reforming catalyst, as measured by the mole percent conversion of charge hydrocarbon to product hydrogen, decreases to less than about 90% of the initial activity during a reaction period,
• interrupting said reaction period when the activity of said catalyst has decreased to less than about 90%, said interrupting being effected by decreasing the flow of said charge hydrocarbon;
• contacting said catalyst of decreased activity which steam during a regeneration period at regenerating conditions, including temperature of 800.degree.-1100.degree. and pressure of 0-100 psig for 90-540 seconds, as the activity of said catalyst increases to at least about 75% of its initial activity thereby forming regenerated catalyst;
• and
• recovering product hydrogen.

The method of steam reforming charge toluene which comprises

• passing a mixture of steam and toluene into contact with a steam reforming catalyst at steam reforming conditions including temperature of 800.degree.-1100.degree. F. for 30-180 seconds during which time the activity of the steam reforming catalyst, as measured by the mole percent conversion of charge toluene to product hydrogen, decreases during a reaction period;
• interrupting said reaction period when the activity of said catalyst has decreased, said interrupting being effected by decreasing the flow of said charge hydrocarbon;
• contacting said catalyst of decreased activity with steam during a regeneration period at regenerating conditions including temperature of 800.degree.-1100.degree. F., as the activity of said catalyst increases thereby forming regenerated catalyst;
• and
• recovering product gas containing hydrogen.

The method of steam reforming charge stream containing paraffin hydrocarbons which comprises

• passing a mixture of steam and said charge stream into contact with a steam reforming catalyst at steam reforming conditions including temperatures of 800.degree.-1100.degree. F., pressure of 0-100 psig, and steam to hydrocarbon mole ratio of 25-125:1 for 30-180 seconds during which time the activity of the steam reforming catalyst, as measured by the mole percent conversion of charge hydrocarbon to product hydrogen decreases to 50-90% of its initial activity during a reaction period;
• interrupting said reaction period when the activity of said catalyst has decreased to a point at which the activity is less than 90% of the initial activity, said interrupting being effected by decreasing the flow of said charge hydrocarbon;
• decreasing the flow of charge hydrocarbon to 0%-50% of that of the reaction period during a regenerating period;
• contacting said catalyst of decreased activity with steam at regenerating conditions including temperature of 800.degree.-1100.degree. F., pressure of 0-100 psig, and a weight hourly space velocity WHSV of 0.1-2 for 90-540 seconds as the activity of said catalyst increases to 80%-100% of its initial activity thereby forming regenerated catalyst;
• and
• recovering product gas containing hydrogen.

The method of steam reforming charge hydrocarbon containing C.sub.9 -C.sub.11 hydrocarbon components which comprises

• passing a mixture of steam and charge into contact with a steam reforming catalyst at steam reforming conditions including temperature of 800.degree.-1100.degree. F. for 30-180 seconds during which time the activity of the steam reforming catalyst, as measured by the mole percent conversion of charge hydrocarbon to product hydrogen decreases to less than about 90% of the initial activity during a reaction period;
• interrupting said reaction period when the activity of said catalyst has decreased to less than about 90%, said interrupting being effected by decreasing the flow of said charge hydrocarbon;
• contacting said catalyst of decreased activity with steam during a regeneration period at regenerating conditions including temperature of 800.degree.-1100.degree. F., as the activity of said catalyst increases to at least about 75% of its initial activity thereby forming regenerated catalyst;
• and
• recovering product gas containing hydrogen.