Patent ID: 8354457

Claim:
A process to synthesise hydrocarbons, the process including gasifying fine coal at a temperature sufficiently high to produce at least one hot synthesis gas stream at an exit temperature of at least 900° C. and comprising at least CO and H 2 , the CO and H 2 being present in a [H 2 ]/[CO] molar ratio in the range 0.3 to 1; in a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage, converting synthesis gas to hydrocarbons and providing a tail gas stream containing methane; and subjecting the tail gas stream to steam reforming thereby converting the methane to CO and H 2 producing a reformed gas stream which is recycled to the Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage, the steam reforming taking place at an elevated temperature of at least 700° C. and heat for the steam reforming being provided by indirect heat exchange with said at least one hot synthesis gas stream, said at least one hot synthesis gas stream being cooled by the heat exchange so that a cooled synthesis gas stream is obtained.