Process for producing a hydrogen-containing product gas

US8303929B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. · US
• Technip USA, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Xiang-Dong Peng · Allentown, US
• Diwakar Garg · Emmaus, US
• William Robert Licht · Allentown, US
• Shankar Nataraj · Allentown, US
• Peter de Geest · Truth or Consequences, US
• Eric S. Wagner · Tustin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 15, 2010
• Grant date: Nov 6, 2012
• Expiry date: Jan 13, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C01B2203/143
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for producing a hydrogen-containing product gas by catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reforming with an overall steam-to-carbon molar ratio between 1.5 and 2.4 for the process. The process stream is reacted in at least two prereformers prior to reaction in catalyst-containing tubes in a top-fired reformer furnace. The process stream is reacted adiabatically in the first prereformer, while the process stream is heated prior to being introduced into the second prereformer and/or the second prereformer is heated. The process avoids carbon formation on the catalyst in the catalyst-containing tubes in the primary reformer.