Method for converting natural gas to olefins
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsKenneth R. Hall, Jerry A. Bullin, Philip T. Eubank, Aydin Akgerman, Rayford G. Anthony
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Abstract
A process for converting natural gas to an olefin includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene or acetylene, and reacting with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce the olefin, usually ethylene. A portion of the incoming natural gas may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions may be used to make electricity in a fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen may be burned to heat the natural gas to the selected range of temperature.
Claims20
A method for converting natural gas to an olefin, comprising:
- a) providing a stream of natural gas;
- b) separating the natural gas stream into a feed stream and a burn stream;
- c) conveying the feed stream and burn stream to a furnace wherein the burn stream is burned and wherein the feed stream is heated to form hydrogen and reactive products comprising an acetylene portion;
- d) quenching the reactive products and hydrogen;
- and
- e) conveying the reactive products to a catalytic reactor and providing hydrogen and a catalyst in the reactor such that the reactive products are converted to the olefin.
A method for converting natural gas to an olefin, comprising:
- a) providing a stream of natural gas;
- b) conveying the natural gas to a reactor and heating the natural gas using electrical power, wherein the natural gas is heated to form hydrogen and reactive products comprising an acetylene portion;
- c) quenching the reactive products and hydrogen;
- d) conveying the reactive products and hydrogen to a catalytic reactor;
- and
- e) providing hydrogen and a catalyst in the reactor such that the reactive products are converted to the olefin.
A method for converting natural gas to an olefin, comprising:
- a) providing a stream of natural gas;
- b) conveying the natural gas through a furnace wherein hydrogen is burned and wherein the natural gas is heated to form hydrogen and reactive products comprising an acetylene portion;
- c) quenching the reactive products and hydrogen;
- and
- d) conveying the reactive products to a catalytic reactor and providing hydrogen and a catalyst in the reactor such that the reactive products are converted to the olefin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.