Patent ID: 7683227

Claim:
A process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons, the process comprising: (a) contacting a feed containing methane with a dehydrocyclization catalyst in a reaction zone under conditions effective to convert said methane to aromatic hydrocarbons; (b) transferring a first portion of said catalyst from the reaction zone to a heating zone; (c) heating the first catalyst portion in the heating zone by contacting the catalyst with hot combustion gases generated by burning a supplemental source of fuel comprising a hydrocarbon and said hydrocarbon is burned in an oxygen-lean atmosphere to produce synthesis gas; (d) converting the synthesis gas to additional hydrocarbon product and/or fuel; (e) returning the heated first catalyst portion to the reaction zone; (f) transferring a second portion of said catalyst from the reaction zone to a regeneration zone separate from said heating zone; (g) contacting said second catalyst portion with a regeneration gas in said regeneration zone under conditions effective to at least partially remove coke from said second catalyst portion; and (h) returning the regenerated second catalyst portion to the reaction zone.