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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Process of producing a high-methane gas interchangeable with natural gas

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6743052

Metallgesellschaft AG's new process produces high-methane-content gas while limiting carbon deposition during methanation by reducing the proportion of carbon dioxide in the methanator feed gas. A mixture of naphtha or other liquid hydrocarbons, steam (steam/hydrocarbon ratio of less than 1), and recycled methane-rich gas (90% methane) containing water vapor is reacted over a nickel catalyst at 662 to 1112/sup 0/F and elevated pressure to produce a rich gas containing CO/sub 2/. This rich gas is cooled by sprinkling it with cold water from a saturation zone. The CO/sub 2/ is then removed and the product gas divided into two partial streams, the ratio of the first to the second being 0.61 to 1.20. The second stream is heated and enriched with water vapor by contacting it in the saturation zone with heated trickling water. The second stream is combined with the liquid hydrocarbon feedstock as the recycled methane-rich gas.

Assignee:
Metallgesellschaft AG
Patent Number(s):
US 3990867
OSTI ID:
6743052
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English