Patent ID: 8784515

Claim:
A process of catalytic partial oxidation with in-situ coke removal, the process comprising: (a) feeding a hydrocarbon fuel into a reactor; (b) feeding an oxidant into the reactor, the hydrocarbon fuel and oxidant being fed in a fuel-rich feed ratio; (c) contacting the hydrocarbon fuel and oxidant in the reactor with a catalyst consisting essentially of a partial oxidation catalyst capable of converting the hydrocarbon into hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the contacting occurring at a temperature between 850° C. and 1,050° C. for a fuel-rich cycle time sufficient to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and further wherein the fuel-rich cycle time is greater than 15 seconds but less than a time that would produce a temperature greater than 1,050° C. when the hydrocarbon fuel is shut off; (d) varying the feed of hydrocarbon fuel, or the feed of oxidant, or both feeds to the reactor to produce a fuel-lean feed ratio of hydrocarbon fuel to oxidant; (e) maintaining the fuel-lean feed ratio at a temperature greater than 850° C. and less than 1,050° C. for a fuel-lean cycle-time greater than 100 milliseconds and less than 800 milliseconds so as to reduce coke deposits while maintaining a substantially constant yield of partially-oxidized reaction product; (f) varying the feed of hydrocarbon fuel, or the feed of oxidant, or both feeds to the reactor so as to provide a fuel-rich feed ratio in the manner of steps (a) and (b); and reiterating process steps (c) through (f); and further wherein all process steps are conducted in the absence of co-fed water or steam.