Patent ID: 8349214

Claim:
A method for producing a synthesis gas product comprising: contacting permeate and retentate sides of at least one oxygen transport membrane element configured to separate oxygen through oxygen ion transport with a hydrogen containing stream formed from a synthesis gas containing no more than 20 percent methane by volume and an oxygen containing stream, respectively; reacting the hydrogen containing stream with the oxygen transported through the at least one oxygen transport membrane element, thereby generating heat, a heated reaction product stream and a heated retentate stream; combining the heated reaction product stream with a reactant stream to form a combined stream comprising hydrocarbons contributed by the reactant stream and steam contributed at least by the heated reaction product stream; reacting the hydrocarbons and steam contained in the combined stream in at least one catalytic reactor to produce a synthesis gas stream; transferring the heat generated by the at least one oxygen transport membrane element to the at least one catalytic reactor by radiation from the at least one oxygen transport membrane element and by indirect heat transfer from the heated retentate stream to the at least one catalytic reactor to assist in supporting endothermic heating requirements of the steam methane reforming reaction; and producing the synthesis gas product from at least part of the synthesis gas stream.