GB791946A - Process for the conversion and methanisation of carbon monoxide-containing gases - Google Patents

Abstract

791,946. Enriching gases containing carbon monoxide. KOHLENSCHEIDUNGS - GES. Feb. 25, 1955, No. 5789/55. Class 55 (2). In a process for methanizing gases containing carbon monoxide by reacting some of the carbon monoxide with steam to form carbon dioxide and hydrogen and then reacting a further quantity of the carbon monoxide with hydrogen to form methane and steam, the heat generated is transmitted before completion of the methanization to the gas to be methanized and part of the heat transmitted is used to vaporize water in the gas thus heated to provide the steam necessary for the process. In the drawing gas to be methanized or passed through heat exchangers 1, 4 and 5 and water is sprayed into the preheated at 2 and if necessary also at 2<SP>11</SP> to provide steam for the first stage of the process in which carbon monoxide and steam are reacted together. This reaction is effected in reactors 6 and 7, water may be sprayed into the gases at 2<SP>1</SP> if more steam is required for the reaction in reactor 7. Gases from the reactor 7 are cooled in heat exchanger 5 to between 250‹ and 300‹ C. before passing to a reactor 7 containing a catalyst promoting the formation of methane from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. From reactor 7 the gases are passed through heat exchanger 1 and are again cooled before entering a second methane-producing reactor 8, methane enriched gases are withdrawn via heat exchanger 4 wherein they are cooled to between 200‹ and 250‹ C. and are subsequently further cooled and scrubbed to remove carbon dioxide. In a modification, the methane-producing reactor is in tubular form and the gases to be methanized are passed first through a body of water and then preheated in passing round the tubular reactor, water entrained in the gases being vaporized.