US3441395A - Production of combustible gases - Google Patents

Production of combustible gases Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3441395A
US3441395A US460816A US46081665A US3441395A US 3441395 A US3441395 A US 3441395A US 460816 A US460816 A US 460816A US 46081665 A US46081665 A US 46081665A US 3441395 A US3441395 A US 3441395A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
stage
steam
gas
catalyst
reforming
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US460816A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Frederick James Dent
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gas Council
Original Assignee
Gas Council
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gas Council filed Critical Gas Council
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3441395A publication Critical patent/US3441395A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01BNON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/32Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
    • C01B3/34Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
    • C01B3/38Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using catalysts
    • C01B3/384Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using catalysts the catalyst being continuously externally heated
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01BNON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/32Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
    • C01B3/34Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
    • C01B3/38Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using catalysts
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01BNON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/32Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
    • C01B3/34Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
    • C01B3/38Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using catalysts
    • C01B3/40Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using catalysts characterised by the catalyst
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10GCRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G11/00Catalytic cracking, in the absence of hydrogen, of hydrocarbon oils
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10GCRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G11/00Catalytic cracking, in the absence of hydrogen, of hydrocarbon oils
    • C10G11/02Catalytic cracking, in the absence of hydrogen, of hydrocarbon oils characterised by the catalyst used
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01BNON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/10Catalysts for performing the hydrogen forming reactions
    • C01B2203/1041Composition of the catalyst
    • C01B2203/1047Group VIII metal catalysts
    • C01B2203/1052Nickel or cobalt catalysts

Definitions

  • the gaseous mixture from the first stage is passed through at least one pair of stages consisting of, first, an externally fired preheater and, secondly, a reforming stage in which the preheated gases are subjected to the action of a reforming catalyst at a temperature above 550 C. to bring about the conversion of methane contained therein by reaction with steam to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
  • the present invention relates to processes for the production of combustible gases.
  • the gas so produced contains more methane than is required for town gas and a second stage is disclosed in this prior specification wherein the methane-containing gas resulting from the first stage together with the nudecomposed steam are passed through a further bed of nickel catalyst operated at a temperature above 500 C. to bring about the conversion of methane by reaction with steam into carbon monoxide and hydrogen to the extent required to reduce the methane content as desired.
  • This reaction is endothermic and the required heat can be supplied, for example, by adding oxygen or air to the gases to liberate the heat by internal combustion or by designing the catalyst vessel so that heat can be supplied to it from outside.
  • the carbon monoxide may be converted by reaction with steam to carbon dioxide and hydrogen and the carbon dioxide removed; these subsequent stages may be carried out by means that are well-known.
  • This process has the feature that a low proportion of steam to hydrocarbon can be used, for example 1.6 or 2 lb. per lb. of distillate, which is near the theoretical minimum imposed by the need to avoid carbon deposition by the decomposition of the carbon monoxide formed.
  • the present invention is concerned with a further method of supplying the heat which is absorbed by the endothermic second-stage reactions, namely, as sensible Patented Apr. 29, 1969 "ice heat in the ingoing gaseous mixture, imparted by passing the mixture leaving the first gasification stage through at least one further stage which comprises an externallyfired preheater.
  • the invention provides -a process for the production of gases containing methane by reaction of the vapour of parafiinic hydrocarbons having an average of from 4 to 15 carbon atoms per molecule with steam, which process comprises passing the hydrocarbon vapour with steam at a temperature of at least 350 C. into a bed of a nickel catalyst, whereby the maximum temperature in the catalyst bed is maintained at not more than 600 C. and substantially no carbon deposition takes place on the catalyst, passing the gaseous mixture produced in this gasification stage through at least one pair of stages being, first, an externally fired preheater, and, secondly, a reforming stage in which the preheated gases are subjected to the action of a reforming catalyst at such a temperature above 550 C.
  • the preheater providing heat which is absorbed by this endothermic reaction. It is preferred that the maximum temperature in the catalyst bed in the gasification stage shall be maintained at not more than 575 C. or 550 C.
  • the thermal capacity of the mixture of hydrogen, carbon oxides, methane and undecomposed steam produced by the gasification stage is generally insufiicient for the method of the present invention within the limits described.
  • some increase in the proportion of steam in the mixture supplied to the reforming stage or stages provided either by adding the additional steam to the mixture of gases and nudecomposed steam emerging from the gasification stage, or by increasing the proportion of steam to hydrocarbon in the mixture supplied to the gasification stage, for example, to at least 2.0 lb./lb., supplying the heat for the endothermic reforming reactions by preheat becomes practicable.
  • the heat which is supplied by preheating the mixture of gases and undecomposed steam is entirely sufiicient for the reactions in the reforming stage or stages.
  • the present process avoids the necessity of consuming energy in compressing the air.
  • nitrogen is not a component of the final gas, which accordingly has a higher flame speed; and less carbon dioxide has to be removed in attaining the desired gas composition.
  • narrower tubes can be used when it is the gas mixture alone which is heated; the tubes can accordingly be thinner in the wall and so be subject to less thermal stress.
  • One preferred embodiment of the invention is thus a process for the production of combustible gas containing methane, for example town gas, and, in particular, town gas of calorific value 500 B.t.u. per cu. ft., in which the vapour of light petroleum distillate or similar mixture of hydrocarbons containing an average of 4 to or carbon atoms per molecule substantially free from sulphur compounds is mixed with steam and the mixture is preheated, for example, to 550 C. or 600 C.
  • Carbon monoxide conversion and partial carbon dioxide removal results in the production of gas of calorific value 500 B.t.u. per cu. ft. and Wobbe Number 715.
  • the methane-rich gas leaving the gasification stage is preheated in a first preheater, passed over a bed of catalyst in a first reforming stage, preheated again in a second preheater and passed over another bed of catalyst in a second reforming stage.
  • These pairs of operations need not be limited in number although normally two will sufiice.
  • the plurality of preheating stages may be heated in the same furnace, with preheat at each step to the same temperature, but this is not necessary. The procedure enables more heat to be supplied for reforming within the same limits of temperature than when there is only one preheating operation.
  • Outlet Stage 1 Outlet reformer stages (gasifieation) N o. 1 No. 2
  • Carbon monoxide conversion and partial carbon dioxide removal results in the production of gas of calorific value 500 B.t.u. per cu. ft. and Wobbe Number 715.
  • the hydocarbon feedstock was substantially completely freed from sulphur compounds after evaporation and before admixture with steam for the gasification stage of the process. This is a normal step where nickel catalysts are used. The tests described are much shorter than was possible, for steady conditions were established which would have persisted for as long as the nickel catalyst of the gasification stage remained active.
  • the catalyst used in the gasification stage in both examples was the co-precipitated alkali-containing nickelalumina catalyst E described in our application No. 351,- 190.
  • the reforming catalyst used in all the reforming stages was a commercially available nickel catalyst made by the firm of Girdler and known as G. 56.
  • EXAMPLE 3 The experiment illustrates the embodiment of the invention in which only one reforming stage is used. Operating conditions were maintained steady for 470 hours before the test was terminated and the results were obtained during a sampling period which began about 250 hours after the start.
  • Town gas can be produced from the gas leaving the reforming stage by carbon monoxide conversion, partial carbon dioxide removal, and condensation of undecomposed steam.
  • EXAMPLE 4 The experiment illustrates the embodiment of the invention in which there are two reforming stages with preheat to the mixture of gases and steam before each stage. Operating conditions were maintained steady for 468 hours before they were deliberately altered and the results were obtained during a sampling period which began 336 hours after the start.
  • a process for the production of town gas containing methane by reaction of the vapor of paraffinic hydrocarbons having an average of from 4 to 15 carbon atoms per molecule with steam which process comprises passing a mixture of steam and a hydrocarbon vapor in the ratio of 2.42 to 3.5 :1 lbs. and at a temperature between 525 and 540 C. into a bed of a nickel catalyst, the maximum temperature in the catalyst bed being maintained at not more than 600 C.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Hydrogen, Water And Hydrids (AREA)
  • Catalysts (AREA)
US460816A 1964-06-08 1965-06-02 Production of combustible gases Expired - Lifetime US3441395A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2369864A GB1043377A (nl) 1964-06-08 1964-06-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3441395A true US3441395A (en) 1969-04-29

Family

ID=10199828

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US460816A Expired - Lifetime US3441395A (en) 1964-06-08 1965-06-02 Production of combustible gases

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3441395A (nl)
AT (1) AT253661B (nl)
BE (1) BE665064A (nl)
CH (1) CH436236A (nl)
DE (1) DE1256350B (nl)
DK (1) DK119418B (nl)
ES (1) ES313860A1 (nl)
FR (1) FR1455141A (nl)
GB (1) GB1043377A (nl)
NL (1) NL6507157A (nl)
SE (1) SE324855B (nl)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3828474A (en) * 1973-02-01 1974-08-13 Pullman Inc Process for producing high strength reducing gas
US3859230A (en) * 1969-10-24 1975-01-07 Fluor Corp Synthesis gas generation with carbon dioxide supplemented feed
US3882636A (en) * 1971-10-07 1975-05-13 Japan Gasoline Two-stage steam reforming process of hydrocarbons
US3897471A (en) * 1969-06-18 1975-07-29 Metallgesellschaft Ag Process for producing methanol
US3904744A (en) * 1973-10-01 1975-09-09 Exxon Research Engineering Co Process for the production of hydrogen-containing gases
US3963642A (en) * 1971-08-20 1976-06-15 Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft Process for producing a reducing gas
US4234451A (en) * 1972-12-23 1980-11-18 Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft Process of producing a reducing gas
US4417905A (en) * 1975-09-29 1983-11-29 British Gas Corporation Gas making
WO2005081790A2 (en) * 2004-02-03 2005-09-09 Nu Element, Inc. Systems and methods for generating hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0049967A1 (en) * 1980-10-14 1982-04-21 Imperial Chemical Industries Plc Ammonia production process
GB8728882D0 (en) * 1987-12-10 1988-01-27 Ici Plc Hydrogen

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB772788A (en) * 1952-02-19 1957-04-17 Azote Office Nat Ind Improvements in or relating to apparatus for performing a process of manufacturing gases containing hydrogen
GB820257A (en) * 1958-03-06 1959-09-16 Gas Council Process for the production of gases containing methane from hydrocarbons
GB993974A (en) * 1952-02-19 1965-06-02 Azote Office Nat Ind Process for the production of gases containing hydrogen by conversion of hydrocarbons

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB772788A (en) * 1952-02-19 1957-04-17 Azote Office Nat Ind Improvements in or relating to apparatus for performing a process of manufacturing gases containing hydrogen
GB993974A (en) * 1952-02-19 1965-06-02 Azote Office Nat Ind Process for the production of gases containing hydrogen by conversion of hydrocarbons
GB820257A (en) * 1958-03-06 1959-09-16 Gas Council Process for the production of gases containing methane from hydrocarbons

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3897471A (en) * 1969-06-18 1975-07-29 Metallgesellschaft Ag Process for producing methanol
US3859230A (en) * 1969-10-24 1975-01-07 Fluor Corp Synthesis gas generation with carbon dioxide supplemented feed
US3963642A (en) * 1971-08-20 1976-06-15 Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft Process for producing a reducing gas
US3882636A (en) * 1971-10-07 1975-05-13 Japan Gasoline Two-stage steam reforming process of hydrocarbons
US4234451A (en) * 1972-12-23 1980-11-18 Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft Process of producing a reducing gas
US3828474A (en) * 1973-02-01 1974-08-13 Pullman Inc Process for producing high strength reducing gas
US3904744A (en) * 1973-10-01 1975-09-09 Exxon Research Engineering Co Process for the production of hydrogen-containing gases
US4417905A (en) * 1975-09-29 1983-11-29 British Gas Corporation Gas making
WO2005081790A2 (en) * 2004-02-03 2005-09-09 Nu Element, Inc. Systems and methods for generating hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels
US20050229491A1 (en) * 2004-02-03 2005-10-20 Nu Element, Inc. Systems and methods for generating hydrogen from hycrocarbon fuels
WO2005081790A3 (en) * 2004-02-03 2007-02-01 Nu Element Inc Systems and methods for generating hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1043377A (nl) 1966-09-21
CH436236A (fr) 1967-05-31
NL6507157A (nl) 1965-12-09
AT253661B (de) 1967-04-25
FR1455141A (fr) 1966-10-14
DK119418B (da) 1970-12-28
DE1256350B (de) 1967-12-14
BE665064A (nl) 1965-10-01
SE324855B (nl) 1970-06-15
ES313860A1 (es) 1966-03-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3278452A (en) Production of hydrogen-containing gases
US3625665A (en) Process for the production of methane containing gases
US3642460A (en) Process for the production of a methane-containing gas
US3441395A (en) Production of combustible gases
US2912475A (en) Manufacture of low molecular unsaturated hydrocarbons
US4048091A (en) Process for the preparation of reducing gases
US3479298A (en) Production of hydrogen
US1904592A (en) Process for the manufacture of hydrogen
JPS60215502A (ja) 炭化水素の間接酸化による合成ガスの新規製造方法
US3531267A (en) Process for manufacturing fuel gas and synthesis gas
JPS59152992A (ja) 炭化水素からオレフインを製造するための熱分解法
US2135694A (en) Process for the production of hydrogen
JPS5938161B2 (ja) アンモニア製造用の合成ガスの製造方法
US3468641A (en) Conversion of liquid hydrocarbons into fuel gas or water gas by a thermal or catalytic splitting
US3262886A (en) Process for naphtha reforming
US3954424A (en) Process for producing a methane-containing gas and arrangement therefor
US3429678A (en) Process and apparatus for manufacturing gas rich in hydrogen and in oxides of carbon
US3975169A (en) Process for producing a natural gas substitute
US2475093A (en) Process for multistage conversion of hydrocarbons
US4854943A (en) Process of producing a gas which is rich in carbon monoxide by a cracking of hydrocarbons
US3469957A (en) Process for the production of combustible gases
US2135695A (en) Process for producing a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen
US1819166A (en) Method and apparatus for producing activated charcoal
US3336412A (en) Production of unsaturated hydrocarbons by pyrolysis of saturated hydrocarbons
GB1005935A (en) Process for forming a combustion gas