Temporary desulphurization reactor for pre-treating a hydrocarbon feed before steam reforming with a view to hydrogen production

Abstract

The present invention describes a process for pre-treating a steam reforming feed containing sulphur-containing compounds, using two desulphurization reactors: a temporary desulphurization reactor (1010) containing an active adsorbent solid; a permanent desulphurization reactor (1003) placed upstream of the steam reforming unit, which contains an adsorbent solid in the passivated state, necessitating a depassivation phase in order to be rendered active; the temporary desulphurization reactor (1010) being disconnected as soon as the adsorbent solid of the permanent desulphurization reactor (1003) has been activated, and the volume of the temporary desulphurization reactor being in the range 1/20 to 1/200 times the volume of the permanent desulphurization reactor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.