GB969528A - Processes for reforming hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

Gaseous or volatile hydrocarbons are reformed by partial combustion to carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a process which comprises mixing the hydrocarbon in the vapour phase with steam and oxygen to produce a first mixture which contains sufficient free oxygen to propagate flame and sufficient steam to ensure that combustion takes place without the production of significant amounts of free carbon or tar, and initiating and maintaining continuously the combustion of the first mixture by means of a pilot flame maintained by a small quantity of a second mixture containing an excess of combustible material but sufficiently aerated to give a stable stationary flame, whereby the hydrocarbon in the first mixture is reformed. The second mixture may be prepared by adding further oxygen to a portion of the first mixture. In Fig. 1, the first mixture is fed to the combustion zone 11 via flame trap 15, which is surrounded by pilot burners 16. Fig. 3 shows an alternative construction, the <PICT:0969528/C4-C5/1> <PICT:0969528/C4-C5/2> first mixture entering via flame trap 34 having a subsidiary pilot burner 37 in its centre, some of the first mixture being mixed with air from 41 to an annular pilot flame 42-43.