Patent ID: 7740829

Claim:
A process for producing synthesis gas comprising: a) flowing a hydrocarbon- and water-containing feed gas mixture across a first bed of hot solids to heat the gas; b) flowing the heated gas through a first oxidation zone; c) flowing the heated gas exiting the first oxidation zone across at least one reforming zone to form a synthesis gas; d) flowing the synthesis gas through a second oxidation zone; e) flowing the synthesis gas from the second oxidation zone across a second bed of solids to heat the second bed of solids and cool the synthesis gas wherein in at least one of oxidation zones (b) and (d) an oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the oxidation zone to produce syngas and generate heat; f) reversing the direction of flow of the feed gas mixture at intermittent intervals; and g) recovering synthesis gas from the process in both directions of flow of the feed gases.