Texaco Inc.

Wing-Chiu F Fong

Robert M Suggitt

Henry C Chan

Raymond F Wilson

Manuel E Quintana

An improved method for the production of stoichiometric ratioed syngas comprises partially oxidizing a gaseous feedstock containing substantial amounts of methane in a gasifier to produce a hot synthesis gas stream that is passed in indirect heat exchange through a steam reforming catalytic reactor. A portion of the steam reforming reaction products are mixed with the cooled gasifier synthesis gas stream exiting the steam reforming catalytic reactor to form a combined synthesis gas stream, called a 'stoichiometric ratioed synthesis gas.' The stoichiometric ratioed synthesis gas stream can then be passed into a methanol synthesis unit at substantially the specifications for optimal methanol production with little or no external compression. In a second embodiment the gasifier unit is arranged and operated in parallel with a primary steam reformer unit. The respective synthesis gas streams exiting each unit are combined to form a combined synthesis gas stream that undergoes oxidation in a secondary catalytic reformer unit to form a stoichiometric ratioed synthesis gas that requires minimal external compression before being converted to methanol.

Gasification process combined with steam methane reforming to produce

A process is provided for continuously controlling the hydrocarbon heat content and flow rate of a partial oxidation unit feed-gas stream under conditions where the composition and hence the hydrocarbon heat content of the feed-gas stream is subject to variation. The hydrocarbon heat content of the incoming gases is continuously measured and compared against a design hydrocarbon heat content. An evaluating means calculates whether a moderator is required to decrease the hydrocarbon heat content to the design hydrocarbon heat content or a supplemental high hydrocarbon heat content gas is required to increase the hydrocarbon heat content to the design hydrocarbon heat content. The process utilizes recycle synthesis gas as a moderator. Once the determination is made, the process automatically adjusts flow rates of the recycle synthesis gas stream, the supplemental high hydrocarbon heat content gas stream and the incoming feed-gas stream to provide a partial oxidation unit feed-gas stream with a constant optimum hydrocarbon heat content and flow rate.

Process for continuously controlling the heat content of a partial

A process for producing high purity hyrogen is disclosed. Specifically, the process includes (1) partially oxidizing a gaseous hydrocarbonaceous feedstock to produce a synthesis gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, (2) reacting the synthesis gas mixture with steam to convert the carbon monoxide into a raw gas mixture which primarily includes carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and (3) subjecting the raw gas mixture to pressure swing adsorption to purify the raw gas mixture, thereby producing high purity hydrogen and a reject gas mixture of impurities. The gaseous hydrocarbonaceous feed is specific, inasmuch as it is characterized by containing a major component which includes at least one C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 hydrocarbon and which has an average molecular weight of up to about 30.

Process for producing high purity hydrogen

A process for producing high purity hydrogen is disclosed. Specifically, the process includes (1) partially oxidizing a refinery offgas feedstock to produce a synthesis gas mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, (2) reacting the synthesis gas mixture with steam to convert the carbon monoxide into a raw gas mixture which primarily includes carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and (3) purifying the raw gas mixture to produce high purity hydrogen and a reject gas mixture of impurities. In a preferred embodiment, the purification step occurs in a pressure swing adsorption unit. Alternative embodiments are also described, each of which essentially involve the optional treatment and/or use of the reject gas mixture of impurities.

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Yorktown Heights, NY, United States of America

Wing-Chiu F Fong