Production of methane-rich gas. [partial oxidation of hydrocarbonaceous fuel followed by one to three methanation stages; production of superheated steam]

Patent · Tue Nov 25 04:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:7359188

Child, E T

This is an improved continuous process for producing a clean methane-rich gas stream without the concomitant formation of particulate carbon. By-product superheated steam is simultaneously produced at a maximum temperature. The product stream may have a methane content up to 98 to 99 mole percent or higher and a gross heating value up to 1000 BTU per SCF or more. Process steps include partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel under operating conditions that produce a synthesis gas containing 10 to 30 mole percent methane (dry and CO/sub 2/-free basis) and a H/sub 2//CO mole ratio of 2.6 or higher, and reacting the methane-rich process gas stream in one to three catalytic methanation stages under critical operating conditions that increase the methane content in the process gas stream stepwise up to 98 mole percent or higher. Heat from the highly exothermic methanation reaction is used to make valuable by-product superheated steam. The product gas may be burned without polluting the atmosphere. (Official Gazette)

• Assignee: Texaco Development Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 3922148
• OSTI ID: 7359188
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010500 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Products & By-Products
02 PETROLEUM
020500 -- Petroleum-- Products & By-Products
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040600 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Products & By-Products
090121* -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Chemical Synthesis-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ALKANES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HIGH PRESSURE
HYDROCARBONS
METHANATION
METHANE
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
NICKEL OXIDES
OIL SHALES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTIAL OXIDATION PROCESSES
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
STEAM
SYNTHESIS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE