# US 9,039,795 B2 · Reforming process for synthesis gas production and related plant

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- Number: US 9,039,795 B2
- Document ID: US9039795B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/817,299
- Filed: 2006-02-20
- Published: 2008-10-30
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2005-03-04
- Assignees: Casale SA
- Applicants: Ermanno Filippi
- Inventors: Ermanno Filippi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039795B2

## CPC

- C01B 3/382: Processes with two or more reaction steps, of which at least one is catalytic, e.g. steam reforming and partial oxidation
- B01J 8/0496: {Heating or cooling the reactor}
- B01J 8/067: {Heating or cooling the reactor (B01J8/062 takes precedence)}
- C01B 3/384: with external heating of the catalyst
- B01J 2208/00212: Plates; Jackets; Cylinders
- B01J 2208/00256: in a heat exchanger for the heat exchange medium separate from the reactor
- B01J 2208/00274: involving reactant vapours
- B01J 2208/0053: Controlling multiple zones along the direction of flow, e.g. pre-heating and after-cooling
- B01J 2219/00006: Large-scale industrial plants
- C01B 2203/0233: the reforming step being a steam reforming step
- C01B 2203/0244: the reforming step being an autothermal reforming step, e.g. secondary reforming processes
- C01B 2203/0261: containing a catalytic partial oxidation step [CPO]
- C01B 2203/0805: Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B 2203/142: At least two reforming, decomposition or partial oxidation steps in series
- C01B 2203/148: involving a recycle stream to the feed of the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
- Y02P 20/129: Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
- Y02P 20/52: using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A reforming process for synthesis gas (12) production from a mixture of hydrocarbons (14) comprises a first step, or pre-reforming step, in which a process mixture 18), comprising said mixture of hydrocarbons :14: and steam (16), is subjected to a preliminary catalytic conversion reaction, obtaining a partial conversion product (22) comprising hydrogen, carbon oxides and hydrocarbons, and a second step, or main reforming step, in which said partial conversion product (22) is subjected to a conversion completion reaction, obtaining said synthesis gas (12), said pre-reforming step being carried out in pseudo-isothermal conditions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A reforming process for synthesis gas production from a mixture of hydrocarbons comprising the steps of:
a pre-reforming step, in which a process mixture, comprising said mixture of hydrocarbons and steam, is subjected to a preliminary catalytic conversion reaction, obtaining a partial conversion product comprising hydrogen, carbon oxides and hydrocarbons, said pre-reforming step carried out in pseudo-isothermal conditions controlling the thermal profile of the pre-reforming step by keeping the temperature of the catalyst used in the pre-reforming step substantially constant through indirect heat exchange, and
a main reforming step, in which said partial conversion product is subjected to a conversion completion reaction, obtaining said synthesis gas,
wherein no oxygen is fed to the pre-reforming step, and
wherein at least one part of said partial conversion product obtained in said pre-reforming step is subjected to heating and then used as operating heat exchange fluid for supplying heat through the indirect heat exchange in said pre-reforming step.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The reforming process according to claim 1, wherein said pre-reforming step takes place at a temperature of between 400° C. and 650° C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The reforming process according to claim 1, wherein the heat necessary for said heating of said at least one part of the partial conversion product is taken away from hot effluent generated in said main reforming step.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The reforming process according to claim 1, wherein said mixture of hydrocarbons is subjected to pre-heating.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The reforming process according to claim 1, wherein said partial conversion product obtained in said pre-reforming step is subjected to heating before it is introduced into said main reforming step.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The reforming process according to claim 5, wherein the heat necessary for said heating of said partial conversion product is taken away from hot effluent generated in said main reforming step.