Patent ID: 7625414

Claim:
A process for the production of a hydrogen-rich effluent from a hydrocarbon feedstock, an alcohol, or an oil made from biomass, said process comprising reacting said feedstock, alcohol, or oil in a partial oxidation reactor, said reactor comprising an elongated jacket, a first internal chamber ( 5 ), a second chamber ( 7 ), means ( 8 ) for linking said first chamber ( 5 ) to a second chamber ( 7 ), means ( 12 ) for supplying a preheated gas, means ( 9 ) for supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock, an alcohol, or an oil made from biomass, and means ( 11 ) for evacuation of a hydrogen-rich effluent connected to said second chamber ( 7 ), said process comprising: supplying a preheated oxygen-containing gas and optionally water vapor to said first chamber via said means for supplying a preheated gas, supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock, an alcohol, or an oil made from biomass to said first chamber via said means for supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock, an alcohol, or an oil made from biomass, performing an essentially isothermal partial oxidation reaction in said first internal chamber, removing effluent from said first chamber and introducing said effluent from said first chamber into said second chamber via said means for linking said first chamber to said second chamber, wherein said second chamber has a volume suitable for carrying out a piston flow, said linking means comprises at least one orifice, and said first chamber and said second chamber indirectly exchange heat over at least a portion of their length with said means for supplying preheated gas, evacuating hydrogen-rich effluent from said second chamber via said means for evacuation of a hydrogen-rich effluent, wherein gas turbulizing means are provided within said first chamber ( 5 ) so as to provide a recycling rate within said first chamber of at least 25%, said means for supplying preheated gas comprises an annular chamber that is essentially coaxial with said jacket, and said second chamber is essentially coaxial with said jacket and comprises a first essentially adiabatic zone that is linked to said linking means, and a second zone that exchanges heat with said means for supplying preheated gas.