Patent ID: 7141231

Claim:
A method of producing hydrogen gas from a hydrocarbon gas and steam comprising: (a) forming a fluidized bed of a suitable particulate catalyst in a reactor; (b) deploying part of the catalyst in the reactor in a first endothermic dehydrogenation reaction mode; and (c) deploying part of the catalyst in the reactor in a second exothermic oxidation or partial oxidation reaction mode, said second exothermic dehydrogenation reaction mode being physically separated from the first endothermic dehydrogenation reaction mode but enabling the circulation of particles and gases between the first and second modes; (d) introducing a mixture of steam and hydrocarbon gas into the bottom of the fluidized bed to fluidize the particulate catalyst and form the fluidized bed, reacting the steam and hydrocarbon gas within the first endothermic dehydrogenation reaction mode to produce hydrogen gas; (e) separating said hydrogen gas from other gases in the first endothermic dehydrogenation reaction mode as molecular or atomic hydrogen through a perm-selective membrane that is located in the first endothermic dehydrogenation reaction mode, said perm-selective membrane permitting the transfer of hydrogen therethrough while minimizing the transmission therethrough of the other gases in the endothermic dehydrogenation reaction mode; (f) introducing oxidant into the second exothermic oxidation or partial oxidation reaction mode, and mixing the oxidant with other gases in the second exothermic oxidation and partial oxidation mode; and (g) directing resultant heated particulate catalyst to the first endothermic dehydrogenation reaction mode.