Method for the preparation of synthesis gas

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10889496-B2
Application number	US-201816624171-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2018
Priority date	Jul 25, 2017
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

Method for the preparation of synthesis gas by combining electrolysis of water, autothermal reforming and heat exchange reforming of a hydrocarbon feed stock.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Method for the preparation of synthesis gas comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing a separate hydrogen containing stream and a separate oxygen containing stream by electrolysis of water and/or steam;
(b) providing a hydrocarbon feedstock;
(c1) steam reforming a part of the hydrocarbon feedstock from step (b), and/or a second hydrocarbon feedstock, by indirect heat transfer with part or all of an autothermal reformed gas leaving step (d), to obtain a steam reformed gas stream, and mixing the steam reformed gas stream with the autothermal reformed gas downstream of step (d); or
(c2) heat exchange steam reforming a part or all of the hydrocarbon feedstock from step (b), by indirect heat transfer with part or all of an autothermal reformed gas leaving step (d), to obtain a steam reformed gas, and introducing the steam reformed gas into an autothermal reformer in step (d) to obtain the autothermal reformed gas for use in step (c2);
(d) producing, as an exit gas in an autothermal reformer, the autothermal reformed gas for use in step (c1) or step (c2) by autothermal reforming a part of the hydrocarbon feedstock from step (b) or at least a part of the steam reformed gas from step (c2), with at least a part of the separate oxygen containing stream from step (a);
(e) introducing at least part of the separate hydrogen containing stream from step (a) into the mixed heat exchange reformed gas and autothermal reformed gas downstream step (c1) or into the autothermal reformed gas downstream step (d) to obtain a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; and
(f) withdrawing a synthesis gas.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein carbon dioxide is added to the hydrocarbon feedstock upstream of the autothermal reformer or downstream step (c1) or (c2) or downstream of step (d).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the carbon dioxide is added in an amount to provide a module (M=(H 2 −CO 2 )/(CO+CO 2 ) in the synthesis gas prepared in step (d) in the range from 1.9-2.2.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises natural gas, methane, LNG, naphtha or mixtures thereof either as such or pre-reformed and/or desulfurized.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrolysis of water and/or steam in step (a) is powered at least in part by renewable energy.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synthesis gas prepared in step (f) is, in a further step, converted to a methanol product.

Assignees

• Haldor Topsoe As

Inventors

• Aasberg-Petersen Kim
• Han Pat A
• Mortensen Peter Mølgaard

Classifications

• C07C29/1518

  one step being the formation of initial mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen for synthesis · CPC title

• C07C31/04

  Methanol · CPC title

• Y02P20/133

  Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight · CPC title

• Y02E60/36

  Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis · CPC title

• C01B2203/0844

  the non-combustive exothermic reaction being another reforming reaction as defined in groups C01B2203/02 - C01B2203/0294 · CPC title