Catalytic partial oxidation process
AssigneeEngelhard Corporation
InventorsRonald M. Heck, Paul Flanagan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for carrying out partial oxidation of hydrocarbon feeds to produce hydrogen rich gases suitable for steam reforming, utilizes a monolithic platinum and palladium containing catalyst. The process comprises introducing an oxygen containing oxidant gas (e.g., air), steam and a hydrocarbon feed into a catalytic partial oxidation apparatus comprising an adiabatic reaction vessel. The oxidation catalyst preferably comprises platinum, palladium and optionally rhodium distended upon a stabilized alumina washcoat. At least one half by weight of the hydrocarbon feed is catalytically oxidized in the monolith at a high throughput rate to produce an effluent suitable for further processing, such as steam reforming.
Claims12
A process for producing a hydrogen-rich gas comprises:
- (a) preheating an inlet stream comprising a hydrocarbonaceous feed, H.sub.2 O and an oxygen-containing oxidant gas to a preheat temperature at least sufficiently high to initiate catalytic oxidation of said hydrocarbonaceous feed as defined below;
- (b) introducing the preheat inlet stream into a catalyst zone comprising a monolithic body having a plurality of gas flow passages extending therethrough and having a catalytically effective amount of palladium and platinum catalytic components dispersed therein, the amounts of hydrocarbon by-product, H.sub.2 O and oxygen introduced into said first catalyst zone being controlled to maintain in said inlet stream an H.sub.2 O to C ratio of at least about 0.35, and an O.sub.2 to C ratio of at least about 0.2 but less than the stoichiometric amount of oxygen necessary to oxidize all the carbon of said feed to CO.sub.2 ;
- (c) contacting the preheated inlet stream within said catalyst zone with said palladium and platinum catalytic component to initiate an sustain therein catalytic oxidation of at least a sufficient quantity of said hydrocarbon feed elevated temperature within said catalyst zone at least high enough to crack unoxidized C.sub.4 hydrocarbons, the temperature of at least a portion of said monolithic body being at least about 250.degree. F. (139.degree. C.) higher than the ignition temperature of said inlet stream, whereby to produce a catalyst zone effluent comprising, predominantly, hydrogen, carbon oxides and said light hydrocarbons;
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- (d) withdrawing the first catalyst zone effluent as a hydrogen-rich gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.