Patent ID: 7888543

Claim:
A process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon(s) including aromatic hydrocarbon(s) in a reactor system comprising at least first and second reaction zones connected in series, the process comprising: (a) providing to said reactor system a hydrocarbon feedstock containing methane; (b) providing to said reactor system a catalytic particulate material; wherein said catalytic particulate material provides greater than 50% of the heat required for (e) and wherein said catalytic particulate material is heated by withdrawing a portion thereof from at least one reaction zone and heating said portion in a heating zone with hot combustion gases generated by burning a supplemental source of fuel and then returning said portion to said at least one reaction zone; (c) moving the bulk of said catalytic particulate material from said first reaction zone to said second reaction zone and moving the bulk of said hydrocarbon feedstock from said second reaction zone to said first reaction zone; (d) maintaining said reaction zones in a moving bed fashion; and (e) operating each said reaction zone under reaction conditions sufficient to convert at least a portion of said methane to a first effluent having said higher hydrocarbon(s).