Patent ID: 8696935
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: B01J,C01B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. Process for the production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising the steps of: (a) reforming the hydrocarbon feedstock by adding steam to said feedstock to form a hydrocarbon-steam mixture, passing the hydrocarbon-steam mixture through a first reforming stage in a radiant furnace provided with a plurality of catalyst tubes which are heated by means of burners arranged within said radiant furnace, and withdrawing a partially reformed hydrocarbon stream; (b) passing the partially reformed stream from the radiant furnace through a second reforming stage in a heat exchange reformer provided with a plurality of catalyst tubes in indirect heat conducting relationship with at least a portion of hot effluent of synthesis gas from step (c), and withdrawing from the heat exchange reformer a cooled effluent of synthesis gas and an effluent stream of partially reformed hydrocarbon stream; (c) passing the partially reformed hydrocarbon stream from the heat exchange reformer through an autothermal reforming stage (ATR) provided with a fixed bed of catalyst, or partial oxidation stage (POx), and withdrawing a hot effluent stream of synthesis gas of which at least a portion is used as heating medium in the heat exchange reformer of step (b); wherein the process further comprises adding a cooling medium in the form of steam to the heat exchange reformer of step (b) and mixing the cooling medium in the heat exchange reformer with the partially reformed stream from the radiant furnace.