Improve syngas production using autothermal reforming

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 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), Vol. 73:3; ISSN 0018-8190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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