Hydropyrolysis process

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:865902

Ullman, Alan Z ^[1]; Silverman, Jacob ^[2]; Friedman, Joseph ^[3]

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1. Northridge, CA
2. Woodland Hills, CA
3. Huntington Beach, CA

An improved process for producing a methane-enriched gas wherein a hydrogen-deficient carbonaceous material is treated with a hydrogen-containing pyrolysis gas at an elevated temperature and pressure to produce a product gas mixture including methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The improvement comprises passing the product gas mixture sequentially through a water-gas shift reaction zone and a gas separation zone to provide separate gas streams of methane and of a recycle gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane for recycle to the process. A controlled amount of steam also is provided which when combined with the recycle gas provides a pyrolysis gas for treatment of additional hydrogen-deficient carbonaceous material. The amount of steam used and the conditions within the water-gas shift reaction zone and gas separation zone are controlled to obtain a steady-state composition of pyrolysis gas which will comprise hydrogen as the principal constituent and a minor amount of carbon monoxide, steam and methane so that no external source of hydrogen is needed to supply the hydrogen requirements of the process. In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment, conditions are controlled such that there also is produced a significant quantity of benzene as a valuable coproduct.

• Research Organization: Rockwell International Corp., Canoga Park, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC21-78ET10328
• Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation (El Segundo, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4597776
• OSTI ID: 865902
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

hydropyrolysis
process
improved
producing
methane-enriched
gas
hydrogen-deficient
carbonaceous
material
treated
hydrogen-containing
pyrolysis
elevated
temperature
pressure
produce
product
mixture
including
methane
carbon
monoxide
hydrogen
improvement
comprises
passing
sequentially
water-gas
shift
reaction
zone
separation
provide
separate
streams
recycle
comprising
controlled
amount
steam
provided
combined
provides
treatment
additional
conditions
obtain
steady-state
composition
comprise
principal
constituent
minor
external
source
supply
requirements
accordance
particularly
preferred
embodiment
produced
significant
quantity
benzene
valuable
coproduct
particularly preferred
pyrolysis gas
pyrolysis process
improved process
product gas
carbon monoxide
gas stream
preferred embodiment
elevated temperature
carbonaceous material
reaction zone
gas streams
gas mixture
improvement comprises
minor amount
gas separation
gas comprising
external source
separation zone
shift reaction
mixture including
comprising hydrogen
controlled amount
recycle gas
provide separate
gas shift
comprises passing
enriched gas
additional hydrogen
/48/201/423/585/