Efficient methane production with metal hydrides
US4383837A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 1979 |
| Grant date | May 17, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/32
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention concerns an efficient, high recovery, single product, multiple-stage process for producing high BTU methane from a low BTU feed gas containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, nitrogen and other materials. In the process, impurities like hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are removed at the appropriate point. The carbon monoxide is removed and split into two streams. One stream is reacted with steam to provide additional hydrogen which is mixed with the other carbon monoxide stream and passed to a methanator. The hydrogen in the feed gas is recovered in an especially efficient two stage manner which is suitable for use with standard cooling water and which reduces metallurgical problems, compression requirements and heat requirements. In the first stage, metal hydrides are formed, thereby separating the hydrogen in the feed gas from nitrogen and the nitrogen exits and is removed. The hydrides are then decomposed to generate additional hydrogen which is also passed to the methanator where carbon monoxide and hydrogen are reacted to form methane and water. The process produces a pipeline quality synthetic natural gas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.