Improve syngas production using autothermal reforming

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States)

OSTI ID:7270244

Christensen, T S; Primdahl, I I ^[1]

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1. Haldor Topsoe, Copenhagen (Denmark)

Synthesis gas or syngas, i.e., mixtures of CO and H[sub 2], is a major route from hydrocarbons to many important bulk chemicals ranging from acetic acid to ammonia. Syngas conversion uses hydrocarbon feedstocks, steam, O[sub 2] and CO[sub 2], either separately or in combinations. Autothermal reforming (ATR) is a low-investment process using a simple reactor design. The process is soot-free due to burner design and fixed-bed catalyst. Developed in the late '50s, ATR's main application was for ammonia and methanol syntheses. In ammonia plants, hydrogen production was maximized by operating at high H[sub 2]O/C ratios ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 mole/mole. In methanol units, CO[sub 2] recycle adjusted the syngas composition. ATR is also used to co-produce CO and H[sub 2] as separate streams at H[sub 2]O/C ratios of 1.4 to 2.0 mole/mole. recent developments and optimizations allow cost-effective operation at very low H[sub 2]O/C feed ratios to produce CO-rich syngas. The paper describes the process, including feedstocks and reactor design, the chemical reactions, development and improvements to the process, test results, soot formation, burner design, burner testing, applications, thermodynamic calculations, industrial application, noncatalytic and catalytic partial oxidation, and future uses.

• OSTI ID: 7270244
• Journal Information: Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States), Journal Name: Hydrocarbon Processing; (United States) Vol. 73:3; ISSN HYPRAX; ISSN 0018-8190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400 -- Petroleum-- Processing
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
100200* -- Synthetic Fuels-- Production-- (1990-)
AUTOTHERMAL REFORMER PROCESSES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
DIAGRAMS
DISTILLATES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLOWSHEETS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
LIQUEFIED GASES
LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES
LIQUIDS
NAPHTHA
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS
PARTIAL OXIDATION PROCESSES
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PRODUCTION
REFINERY GASES
REFORMER PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS GAS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
THERMODYNAMICS