Patent ID: 9180419
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: B01J,C01B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for producing a synthesis gas product comprising: at least one oxygen transport membrane element having a permeate side and a retentate side, wherein said oxygen transport membrane element is configured to separate oxygen from an oxygen containing stream contacting a retentate side of the at least one oxygen transport membrane element and to combust a hydrogen containing stream, formed of a synthesis gas containing no more than 20 percent methane, at a permeate side of the at least one oxygen transport membrane element in the presence of permeated oxygen thereby to generate heat, a heated reaction product stream and a heated retentate stream; at least one catalytic reactor configured to react hydrocarbons and steam to produce a synthesis gas stream, thereby to at least in part produce a synthesis gas product; the at least one catalytic reactor connected to the at least one oxygen transport membrane element such that the heated reaction product stream is combined with a reactant stream containing hydrocarbons to form a combined stream comprising hydrocarbons contributed by the reactant stream and steam contributed at least by a heated reaction product stream and the combined stream is introduced into the at least one catalytic reactor; and the at least one oxygen transport membrane element and the at least one catalytic reactor positioned with respect to one another and within an elongated insulated housing such that the heat is radiated from the at least one oxygen transport membrane element to the at least one catalytic reactor and is indirectly transferred from the heated retentate stream to the at least one catalytic reactor to assist in supporting endothermic heating requirements of the steam methane reforming reaction.