GB1093943A - Reforming hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:1093943/C4-C5/1> A primary methane-containing gas made by reforming a hydrocarbon feed, e.g. natural gas or 1.p.d., with steam and/or CO2, is passed at 12 to a reaction zone (preferably catalyst-filled tubes 16) at a higher temperature than that at which the gas was made, the zone being heated by indirect contact with a heating fluid at a pressure differing by not more than 10 atmos. from the pressure of the primary gas. The final product is a synthesis gas of low CH4 content. The heating fluid preferably comprises combustion products which may or may not be mixed with the gas emerging from the tubes 16. The fuel combusted (at 20) may be the gas emerging at 18 from the tubes 16 (partial combustion only), or part of the primary gas and/or a hydrocarbon (which may be the same as the feed for making the primary gas) introduced at 24. The mixture of make gas and combustion products leaves the apparatus at 30. Downstream of the combustion chamber 20 may be a reforming catalyst 28. The primary reforming stage (not shown) may be at 100 atmos. at temperatures of 400 DEG to 950 DEG C., preferably 600 DEG to 800 DEG C., and may be catalytic, preferably employing a catalyst of the kind described in Specification 953,877. The temperature in the zone 16 may be 800 DEG to 1000 DEG C., e.g. if the primary gas is at 20 to 60 atmos. A specific example is described, in which the hydrocarbon is a petroleum distillate boiling in the range 30 DEG to 220 DEG C.