Catalytic ceramic membrane steam-hydrocarbon reformer

The process for steam reforming of a hydrocarbon to produce H.sub.2, CO and CO.sub.2, that includes:

• a) providing a generally tubular, porous, catalytic ceramic membrane, and providing a heated reaction zone in a container into which said membrane is received,
• b) said membrane carrying a catalytically active metallic substance,
• c) passing a first fluid stream of hydrocarbon and steam into said zone and into contact with one side of said catalytic ceramic membrane, to produce CO.sub.2, CO and H.sub.2, said first stream including between about 5% and 10% hydrogen and being at pressure between 15 psia and 2,000 psia,
• d) and separately passing a second fluid stream including steam adjacent to said opposite side of said membrane in such manner as to promote hydrogen diffusion through said membrane from said one side to the opposite side thereof, thereby causing more complete conversion of said originally supplied hydrocarbon,
• e) removing hydrogen from said opposite side of said membrane,
• f) maintaining a heated, porous catalytic bed extending lengthwise adjacent said membrane, in said zone, transferring heat into said bed lengthwise thereof and via said container, and passing said first stream into said bed for flow in contact with the bed and heating therein followed by first stream contact said one side of the membrane, said bed including pellets of said catalytically active substance in said zone,
• g) operating a gas turbine or gas engine to produce hot exhaust gases;
• and transferring heat from said hot gases through said container into said reaction zone, so as to maintain temperatures or temperature at the tube between 300.degree. and 750.degree. C.,
• h) and directing H.sub.2 derived from at least one of said sides of the membrane to said gas turbine or gas engine as fuel therefor.