Patent ID: 7504048
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: B01J,C01B

Abstract:
1. A steam reforming process for producing synthesis gas comprising: introducing a fuel and an oxidant from a first end of a chamber and reacting therein, thereby generating a flue gas; withdrawing the flue gas from an outlet at the end opposite the first end of the chamber; introducing the flue gas from the chamber to a first end of a conduit; withdrawing the flue gas from a second end of the conduit; introducing a feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon and steam into a first plurality of catalyst-containing tubes at least partially disposed in the conduit; transferring heat by passing the flue gas over the first plurality of catalyst-containing tubes in a flow direction cocurrent to the flow of the feed stream; reacting the feed stream within the first plurality of catalyst-containing tubes to form a hydrogen-containing, partially reformed hydrocarbon stream; distributing at least a portion of the partially reformed hydrocarbon stream into a second plurality of catalyst-containing tubes at least partially disposed in the chamber for reforming the partially reformed hydrocarbon stream to form a hydrogen-rich synthesis gas; and withdrawing the hydrogen-rich synthesis gas from the second plurality of catalyst-containing tubes.