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US 7,740,829 B2Granted
Synthesis gas production and use
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorsChristopher L. Becker, Frank Hershkowitz, James Richardson Lattner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Synthesis gas is produced according to this invention using a combination of steam reforming and oxidation chemistry. The process incorporates the use of solids to heat the hydrocarbon feed, and to cool the gas product. According to the invention, heat can be conserved by directionally reversing the flow of feed and product gases at intermittent intervals.
Claims19
A process for producing synthesis gas comprising:
- a) flowing a hydrocarbon- and water-containing feed gas mixture across a first bed of hot solids to heat the gas;
- b) flowing the heated gas through a first oxidation zone;
- c) flowing the heated gas exiting the first oxidation zone across at least one reforming zone to form a synthesis gas;
- d) flowing the synthesis gas through a second oxidation zone;
- e) flowing the synthesis gas from the second oxidation zone across a second bed of solids to heat the second bed of solids and cool the synthesis gas wherein in at least one of oxidation zones (b) and (d) an oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the oxidation zone to produce syngas and generate heat;
- f) reversing the direction of flow of the feed gas mixture at intermittent intervals;
- and
- g) recovering synthesis gas from the process in both directions of flow of the feed gases.
5 more elements
A process for producing synthesis gas, comprising:
- a) flowing a hydrocarbon and water-containing feed gas across a first bed of hot solids to heat the feed gas;
- b) flowing the heated feed gas across at least one first reforming zone to form a reformed gas;
- c) flowing the reformed gas through an oxidation zone into which is injected an oxygen-containing gas to oxidize at least a portion of the reformed gas to form synthesis gas;
- d) flowing the partially oxidized reformed gas from the oxidation zone into a second reforming zone containing reforming catalyst to convert at least a portion of unconverted hydrocarbon in the synthesis gas into additional synthesis gas;
- and
- e) flowing the synthesis gas across a second bed of solids to heat the second bed of solids and cool the synthesis gas;
- f) reversing the direction of flow of the feed gas at intermittent intervals;
- and
- g) recovering synthesis gas from the process in both directions of flow of the feed gas.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.