Patent ID: 8388864

Claim:
A process for producing synthesis gas from a starting material containing hydrocarbons, dividing a feed stream of the starting material into a first partial stream and a second partial stream, supplying the first partial stream to a steam reformer, in which together with steam it is catalytically converted to a gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon oxides, heating the second partial stream to a temperature between 600° C. and 700° C., combining the first partial stream upon steam reforming again with the second partial stream, and supplying the combined gas stream to an autothermal reformer, in which it is autothermally reformed to a synthesis gas together with gas rich in oxygen, wherein before steam reforming and before autothermal reforming the entire feed stream of the starting material is supplied to a pre-reformer, in which the starting material largely is liberated from higher hydrocarbons.