Patent ID: 9156690
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: B01J,C01B

Abstract:
1. An efficient, integrated process for generating hydrogen from a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock in the essential absence of a shift reaction zone comprising: a. passing to a partial oxidation reformer at a pressure of between about 400 and 1500 kPa absolute feed comprising hydrocarbon-containing feedstock, air, and steam wherein the molar ratio of steam to carbon in the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock is at least about 4:1, said reformer being at partial oxidation/steam reforming conditions to provide a reforming effluent stream comprising at least about 40 volume percent (dry basis) hydrogen, nitrogen, steam, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; b. cooling the reforming effluent stream by indirect heat exchange with a stream containing liquid water to provide a steam-containing stream which is cycled to the partial oxidation/steam reforming zone wherein at least about 40 percent of the steam in the feed mixture is produced by said indirect heat exchange; c. further cooling the cooled reforming effluent stream to pressure swing adsorption conditions, said cooling being sufficient to condense water; d. during or after the further cooling separating the condensed water; e. subjecting the further cooled reforming effluent stream to pressure swing adsorption such that a purified hydrogen stream is produced which (i) is at least about 98 mole percent hydrogen, and (ii) contains less than about 10 ppmv carbon monoxide, and a sorption purge gas is produced at a pressure between about 5 and 100 kPa gauge which comprises less than about 30 volume percent hydrogen (dry basis) and nitrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide; f. withdrawing at least a portion of the purified hydrogen stream as hydrogen product; g. combusting in the substantial absence of added fuel, the sorption purge gas with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of an oxidation catalyst to provide a combustion gas having a temperature of less than about 800° C.; h. subjecting the combustion gas to at least one indirect heat exchange with a liquid water-containing stream to generate steam which is cycled to the reformer; and i. exhausting the cooled combustion gas, wherein the Net Hydrogen Efficiency is at least about 50 percent.