Patent ID: 7183451

Claim:
A method for converting natural gas to hydrocarbon liquids, comprising: providing a natural gas stream; conveying the natural gas stream to a reactor wherein the natural gas stream is partially burned with an oxidant such that a portion of the natural gas stream is heated to a temperature sufficient to convert some of the natural gas to form a reactive product stream comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and reactive products comprising acetylene; quenching the reactive product stream; separating from the reactive product stream an acetylene rich stream and a light gas stream, said light gas stream comprising carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen; conveying the acetylene rich stream to a hydrogenation reactor; reacting at least a portion of the acetylene rich stream with hydrogen in the hydrogenation reaction to form ethylene; conveying a portion of the effluent from the hydrogenation reactor to a catalytic liquefaction reactor and operating the catalytic liquefaction reactor such that hydrocarbon liquids are formed; and conveying the hydrocarbon liquids to storage or transport.