Method for hot gas conditioning

A method for cracking and shifting a synthesis gas comprising:

• a. providing a catalyst consisting essentially of alumina;
• b. contacting said catalyst with a substantially oxygen free synthesis gas comprising:
• (1) carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane and/or higher hydrocarbons;
• and
• (2) water vapor at a concentration of up to 80 volume percent;
• at a temperature of about 530.degree. C. to about 980.degree. C. and a gaseous hourly space velocity greater than about 1000 m.sup.3 /m.sup.3 .multidot.hr adapted to substantially eliminate carbon formation, whereby methane and higher hydrocarbons are cracked according to the reaction,
• C.sub.x H.sub.2y +xH.sub.2 O=xCO+(1+y+x)H.sub.2
• and shifted by the reaction,
• CO+H.sub.2 O=CO.sub.2 +H.sub.2

A method for cracking and shifting a substantially oxygen free synthesis gas comprising:

• a. providing a reaction zone with a catalyst consisting essentially of alumina;
• b. flowing said synthesis gas, comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane and/or higher hydrocarbons, into said reaction zone and contacting said catalyst;
• c. simultaneously with step b., flowing 0 to about 80 volume percent water vapor into contact with said catalyst;
• at a temperature of about 530.degree. C. to about 980.degree. C., and Wherein the combined gaseous hourly space velocity for steps b and c is greater than about 1000 m.sup.3 /m.sup.3 .multidot.hr, adapted to substantially eliminate carbon formation, whereby methane and higher hydrocarbons in said synthesis gas are cracked according to the reaction,
• C.sub.x H.sub.2y +xH.sub.2 O=xCO+(1+y+x)H.sub.2
• and shifted by the reaction,
• CO+H.sub.2 O=CO.sub.2 +H.sub.2

A method for cracking and shifting a synthesis gas comprising:

• a. providing a catalyst consisting essentially of granulated alumina;
• b. contacting said catalyst with said synthesis gas comprising a substantially oxygen free mixture of gases of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, water vapor and hydrocarbons having one or more carbon atoms, at a temperature between about 530.degree. C. (1000.degree. F.) to about 980.degree. C. (1800.degree. F.), at up to 80 volume percent water vapor, and at a gaseous hourly space velocity greater than about 1000 m.sup.3 /m.sup.3 .multidot.hr adapted to substantially eliminate carbon formation;
• c. circulating said catalyst between a gasifier where said contacting is accomplished, and a combustor where said catalyst is heated to maintain said temperatures when said catalyst is recirculated to said gasifier;
• and whereby said hydrocarbons are cracked to form hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide and said hydrogen content of said mixture increases with a corresponding decrease in carbon monoxide.