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• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen; Reversible storage of hydrogen
  • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen
  • C01B3/22—Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen by decomposition of gaseous or liquid organic compounds
  • C01B3/24—Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen by decomposition of gaseous or liquid organic compounds of hydrocarbons
  • C01B3/26—Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen by decomposition of gaseous or liquid organic compounds of hydrocarbons using catalysts
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  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen; Reversible storage of hydrogen
  • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen
  • C01B3/22—Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen by decomposition of gaseous or liquid organic compounds
  • C01B3/24—Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen by decomposition of gaseous or liquid organic compounds of hydrocarbons
  • C01B3/28—Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen by decomposition of gaseous or liquid organic compounds of hydrocarbons using moving solid particles, e.g. fluidised bed technique
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
  • B01J19/24—Stationary reactors without moving elements inside
  • B01J19/2445—Stationary reactors without moving elements inside placed in parallel
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J38/00—Regeneration or reactivation of catalysts, in general
  • B01J38/04—Gas or vapour treating; Treating by using liquids vaporisable upon contacting spent catalyst
  • B01J38/12—Treating with free oxygen-containing gas
  • B01J38/30—Treating with free oxygen-containing gas in gaseous suspension, e.g. fluidised bed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J38/00—Regeneration or reactivation of catalysts, in general
  • B01J38/72—Regeneration or reactivation of catalysts, in general including segregation of diverse particles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
  • B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
  • B01J8/0242—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid flow within the bed being predominantly vertical
  • B01J8/025—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid flow within the bed being predominantly vertical in a cylindrical shaped bed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
  • B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
  • B01J8/06—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds in tube reactors; the solid particles being arranged in tubes
  • B01J8/065—Feeding reactive fluids
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
  • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
  • B01J8/18—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with fluidised particles
  • B01J8/24—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with fluidised particles according to "fluidised-bed" technique
  • B01J8/26—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with fluidised particles according to "fluidised-bed" technique with two or more fluidised beds, e.g. reactor and regeneration installations
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10G—CRACKING 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
  • C10G47/00—Cracking of hydrocarbon oils, in the presence of hydrogen or hydrogen- generating compounds, to obtain lower boiling fractions
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10G—CRACKING 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
  • C10G47/00—Cracking of hydrocarbon oils, in the presence of hydrogen or hydrogen- generating compounds, to obtain lower boiling fractions
  • C10G47/36—Controlling or regulating
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10G—CRACKING 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
  • C10G49/00—Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the presence of hydrogen or hydrogen-generating compounds, not provided for in a single one of groups C10G45/02, C10G45/32, C10G45/44, C10G45/58 or C10G47/00
  • C10G49/002—Apparatus for fixed bed hydrotreatment processes
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10G—CRACKING 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
  • C10G49/00—Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the presence of hydrogen or hydrogen-generating compounds, not provided for in a single one of groups C10G45/02, C10G45/32, C10G45/44, C10G45/58 or C10G47/00
  • C10G49/26—Controlling or regulating
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/02—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/0266—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a decomposition step
  • C01B2203/0277—Processes for making hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a decomposition step containing a catalytic decomposition step
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/0405—Purification by membrane separation
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
  • C01B2203/0475—Composition of the impurity the impurity being carbon dioxide
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
  • C01B2203/049—Composition of the impurity the impurity being carbon
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/10—Catalysts for performing the hydrogen forming reactions
  • C01B2203/1005—Arrangement or shape of catalyst
  • C01B2203/1011—Packed bed of catalytic structures, e.g. particles, packing elements
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/10—Catalysts for performing the hydrogen forming reactions
  • C01B2203/1041—Composition of the catalyst
  • C01B2203/1047—Group VIII metal catalysts
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/10—Catalysts for performing the hydrogen forming reactions
  • C01B2203/1041—Composition of the catalyst
  • C01B2203/1047—Group VIII metal catalysts
  • C01B2203/1052—Nickel or cobalt catalysts
  • C01B2203/1058—Nickel catalysts
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/12—Feeding the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/1205—Composition of the feed
  • C01B2203/1211—Organic compounds or organic mixtures used in the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/1235—Hydrocarbons
  • C01B2203/1241—Natural gas or methane
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
  • C01B2203/14—Details of the flowsheet
  • C01B2203/148—Details of the flowsheet involving a recycle stream to the feed of the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for producing hydrogen and/or other products using alternating fixed and fluid reactor systems and processes.
• Hydrogen is one of the more important options for future clean energy. Unfortunately, many existing methods and systems for producing hydrogen are not cost-effective and/or result in greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide. What is needed is a solution that produces hydrogen in a cost-effective manner. It would further be advantageous if such a solution was not energy intensive and/or did not produce substantial amounts of uncapturable carbon dioxide.
• the instant application pertains to new systems and methods that advantageously produce hydrogen in a cost-effective manner, are not energy intensive and/or do not produce substantial amounts of uncapturable carbon dioxide.
• the application pertains to a process for producing hydrogen and/or solid carbon.
• the process comprises cracking a light hydrocarbon stream in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst under conditions suitable to produce at least (1) hydrogen and (2) a carbon byproduct deposited on a surface of the catalyst.
• the light hydrocarbon stream is usually flowing downward and the reactor is typically in a fixed bed reactor mode in the first stage of operation during cracking. As the reaction continuous, the pressure drop across the reactor bed will increase due to the accumulation of solid carbon byproduct and the catalyst may also deactivate over time.
• the first stage of operation shall be relatively complete and the second stage of operation may commence.
• a light hydrocarbon gas, a superheated steam, an inert gas, or a mixture thereof is flowed upward through the reactor while the reactor is in a fluidized reactor mode and while the conditions are suitable to detach at least a portion up to all of the deposited carbon byproduct from the surface of the catalyst.
• the second stage of operation shall be completed and the third stage of operation shall be started.
• an air, an oxygen, or a mixture of suitable oxidants is flowed upwards through the reactor to allow for regenerating catalyst by reacting an oxidant with the carbon byproduct.
• the application pertains to a process for producing hydrogen comprising first sequentially conducting a cracking step in a fixed bed mode and then conducting a flowing step in a fluidized bed mode in a first reactor.
• the cracking step typically comprises cracking a light hydrocarbon stream comprising methane in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst under conditions suitable to produce at least (1) hydrogen and (2) a carbon byproduct.
• the light hydrocarbon stream comprising methane is flowing downward and the reactor is in a fixed bed reactor mode.
• the carbon and catalyst separation step generally comprises flowing a light hydrocarbon gas comprising methane, a superheated steam, an inert gas, or a mixture thereof upward through the reactor.
• the reactor is in a fluidized reactor mode and the superficial velocity of the flowing is sufficient to allow detaching at least a portion up to substantially all or all of the deposited carbon byproduct from the surface of the catalyst.
• the catalyst regeneration step comprises flowing an oxidant, such as an air, an oxygen, a steam, or any other oxidant to regenerate the catalyst by reacting an oxidant with the carbon byproduct such that heat is generated for use in the cracking step.
• an oxidant such as an air, an oxygen, a steam, or any other oxidant to regenerate the catalyst by reacting an oxidant with the carbon byproduct such that heat is generated for use in the cracking step.
• the application pertains to a reactor system comprising a reactor vessel comprising light hydrocarbon catalyst in a fixed bed configuration.
• the reactor vessel is configured to receive light hydrocarbon feed flowing downward to produce hydrogen while allowing carbon byproduct to be deposited on catalyst surface.
• the reactor vessel is configured to receive a light hydrocarbon gas, a superheated steam, or an inert gas flowing upward to fluidize the light hydrocarbon catalyst and thereafter receive an oxidizing agent to remove deposited carbon byproduct.
• the reactor system is configured to sequentially alternate between a fixed bed reactor mode and a fluidized bed reactor mode.
• Figure 1 shows a representative embodiment of the reactor systems and/or processes with two reactors connected in parallel.
• Figure 2 shows a representative embodiment of the reactor systems and/or processes with a separator and one or more heat exchangers.
• the instant application pertains to processes and systems for producing hydrogen and/or solid carbon among potential other products.
• the process generally comprises cracking a light hydrocarbon stream in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst under conditions suitable to produce at least (1) hydrogen and (2) a carbon byproduct deposited on a surface of the catalyst.
• the light hydrocarbons to be employed are not particularly limited and may include, for example, Ci-Ce or C1-C4 or C1-C2 alkanes such as methane, ethane, or natural gas either pure or in any suitable mixture with potentially minor amounts of other ingredients like carbon dioxide, sulfur compounds such as H2S, water, nitrogen, and mixtures thereof.
• the light hydrocarbon stream may also comprise steam, superheated steam, an inert gas like nitrogen, or any mixture thereof.
• the light hydrocarbons or mixtures to be employed may include any suitable composition such that the resulting product includes at least hydrogen with potentially a carbon byproduct deposited on a surface of the catalyst.
• a particularly useful composition may comprise a light hydrocarbon stream comprising methane or natural gas such as, for example, a light hydrocarbon stream comprising greater than about 80%, or greater than about 90%, or greater than about 95%, or greater than about 99% methane.
• Suitable cracking catalysts and related suitable conditions may differ depending upon the configuration of the system, starting materials, desired products and other factors.
• a suitable light hydrocarbon cracking catalyst and related suitable conditions comprise any catalyst and conditions which convert a heavier hydrocarbon or hydrocarbons into a lighter hydrocarbon, carbon, or a mixture thereof.
• Suitable catalysts and reaction conditions may include, for example, an active carbon, an iron ore, or a metal pyrolysis catalysts such as nickel-based or iron-based catalysts, metal based catalysts having a metal such as Ni, La, Fe, Mo, Co, Pd on a support such as alumina, TiCh, or SiCh, unsupported Fe, iron ore (waste), active carbon and the like with temperatures above about 500 °C, or above about 600 °C, or above about 700 °C, or above about 1000 °C according to reaction equation:
• the reactor is in a fixed bed reactor mode during the cracking step. That is, a light hydrocarbon stream is flowed downward in the reactor while being heated and passed over a series of catalyst in a fixed position such as on a series of trays under the conditions described above to form (1) hydrogen and (2) a carbon byproduct deposited on a surface of the catalyst.
• Hydrogen may be separated in any convenient manner. In one embodiment a separator such as a membrane separator may be used to separate product hydrogen from the unreacted light hydrocarbon stream.
• the unreacted light hydrocarbon stream may be recycled to the inlet of the reactor. If necessary, prior to recycling the unreacted light hydrocarbon stream may be treated to remove a substantial portion of impurities that may poison the catalyst.
• the hydrogen may be cooled and/or further purified for shipping, storage, or use. As described further below, heat from regenerating the catalyst may be employed in the cracking step.
• the reactor mode is alternated to a fluidized reactor mode. Such alternating may be done sequentially such that after the flowing regenerating step the reactor mode may be alternated back to the fixed reactor mode.
• a light hydrocarbon gas, steam, a superheated steam, an inert gas, or a mixture thereof is flowed upward through the reactor under conditions suitable to detach at least a portion up to all of the deposited carbon byproduct from the surface of the catalyst.
• the catalyst is regenerated by reacting an oxidant with the carbon byproduct. Generally it may be desirable to remove a substantial portion of solid carbon before reacting to form CO2.
• the conditions for detaching the deposited carbon byproduct and reacting the oxidant may vary depending upon the specific reactor, reactants, desired products, etc.
• the conditions suitable to detach at least a portion up to all of the deposited carbon byproduct from the surface of the catalyst comprise using suitable turbulence intensity to allow breaking or shearing to detach the carbon deposit from the catalyst surface.
• suitable turbulence may be generated in any convenient manner such as using a superficial velocity of upward flow of from about 0.05, from about 0.1, or from about 0.5 or from about 1 up to about 5, or up to about 4 meters per second. If desired, detached carbon byproduct may be separated in any convenient manner.
• the oxidant employed for regenerating the catalyst is not particularly critical so long as efficient catalyst regeneration is achieved.
• air or pure oxygen may be introduced with or alternatively subsequently added to the upwardly flowing stream of light hydrocarbon gas, steam, a superheated steam, an inert gas, or mixture thereof.
• the regeneration reaction is typically exothermic and at least a portion of the heat generated may be used in the cracking step if desired. At least a portion up to all or nearly all of the carbon dioxide generated in the regeneration reaction may be separated or captured via, for example, a carbon dioxide capture and sequestration unit.
• a gas disengagement zone may be employed while in a fluidized reactor mode.
• a gas disengagement zone may comprise, for example, a vessel diameter configured to separate gas and solids, reduce catalyst, or both while the reactor is fluidized.
• the disengagement zone may be configured such as to allow the separation of carbon product from catalyst particles.
• catalyst particles may drop back to the fluidized bed zone while lighter carbon products are carried away by the gas stream.
• the solid carbon product can then, if desired, be separated from gas in a gas-solid separation process.
• one or more heat exchangers may be employed.
• the type and location of the one or more heat exchangers may vary depending on specific process conditions and equipment.
• one or more heat exchangers may be located between low temperature light hydrocarbon feeds and higher temperature cracking products to recover heat thereby reducing net energy requirements. Additionally or alternatively, there may be one or more heat exchangers between low temperature light hydrocarbon feeds and the higher temperature catalyst regeneration products to recover heat thereby reducing net energy requirements.
• a first reactor may operate in a production mode while a second reactor operates in a regeneration mode or vice versa.
• heat may be shared thereby making the processes more efficient.
• the heat generated by a reactor operating in a regeneration mode may be transferred to a reactor operating in a production or cracking mode which is in need of heat.
• Heat exchangers or other mechanisms may be employed to transfer heat between the reactors as needed.
• Figure 1 shows two parallel reactors employing embodiments of the methods described above. That is. natural gas is input at the top of the reactors to flow downward and be cracked over a fixed catalyst bed mode. An upward flow in a fluidized mode removes carbon deposits from catalyst surface and an air or oxygen purge regenerates catalyst while producing heat. The modes of the two reactors are alternated such while one is in production or cracking fixed mode the other is in fluidized or regeneration mode.
• Figure 2 shows additional potential embodiments that may be employed such as pre-treatment and/or heating of natural gas, a membrane separator, natural gas recycle, heat recovery, hydrogen purification, carbon dioxide capture, and/or solid carbon separation.

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