Patent ID: 7163648

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a hydrogen- and nitrogen containing gas mixture, wherein said method comprises: feeding a mixture of steam and a carbon containing gas to a retentate side of at least one hydrogen transport membrane syngas and sweep gas generator where said gas and steam are converted to a synthesis gas which comprises hydrogen, transporting a part of the hydrogen in said synthesis gas through a membrane to a permeate side in said generator where the hydrogen reacts with oxygen in an air stream fed to said permeate side to generate heat and a nitrogen- and steam containing gas, resulting in a hydrogen depleted synthesis gas, partly using the generated heat to heat the air stream and other gases fed to the generator and partly transferring the generated heat back to the retentate side of the generator to meet a heat requirement for steam reforming the carbon containing feed gas, further feeding the synthesis gas to the retentate side of a downstream hydrogen transport membrane unit or a hydrogen transport membrane reactor where a major part of the hydrogen in said synthesis gash and if a reactor is used, a major part of additional hydrogen generated at the retentate side in said reactor, is transported through said downstream membrane and picked up by said nitrogen containing gas to form a hydrogen- and nitrogen containing gas mixture.