Patent ID: 7915464
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: C10G,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for converting natural gas to hydrocarbon liquids, comprising: providing a feed stream comprising natural gas; conveying a first portion of the feed stream to an electric generator to produce electric power; conveying a second portion of the feed stream to a reactor wherein the second portion of the feed stream is heated using electrical power to a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a reactive product stream comprising acetylene and hydrogen; quenching the reactive product stream; separating from the reactive product stream an acetylene rich stream and a light gas stream; conveying the acetylene rich stream to a hydrogenation reactor; reacting acetylene and hydrogen in the hydrogenation reactor to form ethylene; conveying a portion of the hydrogenation reactor effluent comprising ethylene to a catalytic liquefaction reactor and operating the catalytic liquefaction reactor such that hydrocarbon liquids are produced; providing a second feed stream comprising a portion of the natural gas stream, a portion of a stream separated from the process, or both; conveying the second feed stream to a reaction section of the reactor wherein the second feed stream is heated by intimate mixing with the feed stream to a temperature and for a time sufficient such that reactive products comprising acetylene, ethylene, or both, are produced; and conveying the hydrocarbon liquids to storage or transport; wherein the feed stream is heated and not reacted, partially reacted, or completely reacted prior to mixing with the second feed stream; and wherein the reactive products produced from the second feed stream are mixed with the reactive products produced from the feed stream to form an alternate reactive product stream.