British Gas Plc

Henry L Conway

Henry J Stroud

Cyril Timmins

Brian Hoyle Thompson

John A Hargis

A process, having high thermal efficiency, is provided for the production of substitute natural gas from fossil fuels such as crude oil, by non-catalytic hydrogenation. High thermal efficiency is obtained by using cryogenic systems for separating hydrogen from (a) the product of the hydrogenation reaction and (b) from products produced by partial oxidation in the production of hydrogen required for the hydrogenation reactions. Other products from the partial oxidation reaction may be used either as fuel or as feedstocks for catalytic steam reforming to produce SNG.

Process for making substitute natural gas

Apparatus and a process are provided whereby constituents of liquid mixtures eg non-distillate oils are vaporized under non-decomposing conditions in the presence of gases. Liquid components form a stream comprising the gas, vaporized and liquid constituents of the mixture are removed from the stream. Process may be employed to provide a vaporized feedstock for the non-catalytic thermal hydrogenation of hydrocarbon-based materials in the production of methane containing gases wherein the gas used for vaporization is the same as that used for the subsequent hydrogenation steps.

Method and apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon based liquids

Gases which are produced by the hydrogenolysis of hydrocarbons and which contain hydrogen, paraffins and aromatic compounds are contacted with a quenching medium such as a cooled fluidised bed or a cooled inert gas or liquid to cool the gas to a temperature lower than that which will support any substantial reaction between the hydrogen, paraffinic and aromatic constituents to produce carbonaceous compounds which will be deposited on the surfaces of reaction vessel or gas off-takes. Methane containing gases produced by the non-catalytic hydrogenolysis of oils with a hydrogenating gas at temperatures between 500.degree.-1000.degree.C may be quenched to a temperature not greater than 700.degree.C to prevent after reaction.

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Solihull, United Kingdom

Henry L Conway