Gas separation process for production of hydrogen by autothermal reforming of natural gas, with carbon dioxide recovery
AssigneeMembrane Technology and Research, Inc.
InventorsNicholas P. Wynn, Douglas E Gottschlich, Haiqing Lin
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a process for the production of hydrogen by autothermal reforming of natural gas, with simultaneous recovery of carbon dioxide using carbon dioxide-selective membrane separation. Residual gas from the hydrogen and carbon dioxide recovery is recycled back to the autothermal reformer.
Claims20
A gas separation process for production of hydrogen by autothermal reforming of natural gas, wherein the process comprises the following steps:
- (a) introducing natural gas, steam, and oxygen into an autothermal reformer, to produce a gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, water vapor, and residual natural gas;
- (b) cooling the gas mixture to condense out water;
- (c) treating the resultant gas mixture to remove hydrogen, to produce a hydrogen product stream and a hydrogen-depleted gas mixture;
- (d) providing a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, wherein the membrane is selective to carbon dioxide over hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane;
- (e) passing the hydrogen-depleted gas mixture across the feed side;
- (f) withdrawing from the permeate side a permeate stream that is enriched in carbon dioxide relative to the hydrogen-depleted gas mixture;
- (g) withdrawing from the feed side a residue stream that is depleted in carbon dioxide relative to the hydrogen-depleted gas mixture;
- and
- (h) passing the residue stream as a recycle stream back to the autothermal reformer as feedstock.
A gas separation process for production of hydrogen by autothermal reforming of natural gas, wherein the process comprises the following steps:
- (a) introducing natural gas, steam, and oxygen into an autothermal reformer, to produce a gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, water vapor, and residual natural gas;
- (b) cooling the gas mixture to condense out water;
- (c) providing a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, wherein the membrane is selective to carbon dioxide over hydrogen;
- (d) passing the gas mixture across the feed side;
- (e) withdrawing from the permeate side a permeate stream that is enriched in carbon dioxide relative to the gas mixture;
- (f) withdrawing from the feed side a residue stream that is depleted in carbon dioxide relative to the gas mixture;
- (g) treating the residue stream to remove hydrogen, to produce a hydrogen product stream and a hydrogen-depleted gas stream;
- and
- (h) passing the hydrogen-depleted gas stream as a recycle stream back to the autothermal reformer as feedstock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.