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US 7,351,751 B2Granted
Autothermal reformer reactor processes
AssigneeSyntroleum Corporation
InventorsKym Arcuri, Kurt Schimelpfenig, Jim Leahy, Michael Morgan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for the startup of an ATR which does not contain an ignition means is provided. Also provided is a process to ascertain ATR catalyst activity prior to introduction of sufficient oxidant to form a flammable feed mixture.
Claims15
A Fischer-Tropsch process comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing steam, NG and air into a flameless ATR having a catalyst zone wherein the amount of air introduced maintains the NG/steam/air mixture in the ATR outside the flammability envelope;
- (b) incrementally increasing the air to natural gas ratio until the NG/steam/air mixture in the reactor enters the flammability envelope and imitates heterogeneous POX in the catalyst zone of the ATR.
A process to detect ATR catalyst activity comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing a feed gas mixture comprising steam, natural gas, and air into a flameless ATR having a catalyst zone, wherein the amount of air introduced maintains the feed gas mixture outside the flammability envelope;
- and
- (b) observing a decrease in temperature at some location in the catalyst zone of the ATR.
A process to detect ATR catalyst activity comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing a feed gas mixture comprising steam, natural gas, and air into a flameless ATR having a catalyst zone, wherein the amount of air introduced maintains the feed gas mixture outside the flammability envelope;
- and
- (b) observing conversion of C2− components of the natural gas into CO or CH2 by analyzing the composition of the ATR effluent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.