Production of aromatic hydrocarbons from methane
AssigneeExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
InventorsLarry L. Iaccino, Neeraj Sangar, Elizabeth L. Stavens
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Abstract
In a process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons, a feed containing methane is contacted with a dehydrocyclization catalyst in a reaction zone under conditions effective to convert said methane to aromatic hydrocarbons. A first portion of the catalyst is transferred from the reaction zone to a heating zone, where the first catalyst portion is heated by contacting the catalyst with hot combustion gases generated by burning a supplemental source of fuel. The heated first catalyst portion is then returned to the reaction zone.
Claims34
A process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons, the process comprising:
- (a) contacting a feed containing methane with a dehydrocyclization catalyst in a reaction zone under conditions effective to convert said methane to aromatic hydrocarbons;
- (b) transferring a first portion of said catalyst from the reaction zone to a heating zone;
- (c) heating the first catalyst portion in the heating zone by contacting the catalyst with hot combustion gases generated by burning a supplemental source of fuel comprising a hydrocarbon and said hydrocarbon is burned in an oxygen-lean atmosphere to produce synthesis gas;
- (d) converting the synthesis gas to additional hydrocarbon product and/or fuel;
- (e) returning the heated first catalyst portion to the reaction zone;
- (f) transferring a second portion of said catalyst from the reaction zone to a regeneration zone separate from said heating zone;
- (g) contacting said second catalyst portion with a regeneration gas in said regeneration zone under conditions effective to at least partially remove coke from said second catalyst portion;
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- (h) returning the regenerated second catalyst portion to the reaction zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.