Abstract:
Methanol is passed over a catalyst at an elevated temperature and pressure to produce a fuel gas containing a high proportion of methane in a one-step catalytic conversion process. Removal of water and carbon dioxide from the fuel gas produces a synthetic natural gas. For example, methanol with water is passed over a precious metal catalyst such as ruthenium on alumina at a temperature in the range of about 350.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of about 800 to 2500 psig to produce a gaseous mixture comprising methane, carbon dioxide, minor amounts of hydrogen and essentially no carbon monoxide. Upon condensing the water vapor and scrubbing out the carbon dioxide, synthetic natural gas is obtained having a methane content above 90% by volume.
Abstract:
Dispersions comprising water and particulate solids i.e. carbon and ash are produced in at least one gas cooling or scrubbing zone by quench cooling or scrubbing, or both the raw gas stream from a partial oxidation gas generator with water. Advantageously, the water may be reclaimed by the subject process. In one embodiment, the carbon-water dispersion containing any ash is mixed with a liquid organic extractant and a liquid aqueous emulsion. The emulsion breaks up, and in a decanting operation a carbon-extractant-water dispersion containing gaseous impurities separates out and floats on a dilute bottoms water layer containing gaseous impurities and some solids. The carbon-extractant-water dispersion is mixed with a heavy liquid hydrocarbon and introduced into a distillation column. The overhead from the distillation column is cooled and separated in a separation vessel into an upper layer of liquid organic extractant, an intermediate layer of aqueous emulsion, a bottom layer of water, and an overhead stream of uncondensed gaseous impurities if any. The liquid aqueous emulsion and the liquid extractant are recycled to the decanting operation. The water layer from the separation vessel and the bottoms water from the decanting operation are separately introduced into a flash column where the water is reclaimed. The flash column includes at least one stripping plate and two chambers at the bottom separated by a weir. The overhead from the flash column is cooled below the dew point and is introduced into said separation vessel. In another scheme, the emulsion is mixed with the bottoms water from the decanting operation and fed to a flash column for reclaiming water. Alternately, the aqueous emulsion is broken-up into water and liquid hydrocarbon by heating.
Abstract:
A process for recovering particulate carbon from the effluent gas stream from a partial oxidation synthesis-gas generator by scrubbing the effluent gas with water in a scrubbing zone to form a carbon-water dispersion, by mixing said dispersion with a liquid organic extractant comprising a mixture of the liquid organic by-products from the oxo or oxyl process so as to produce a clarified water layer and a carbon-extractant dispersion, by separating and recycling said clarified water to said scrubbing zone, and by introducing part or all of said carbon-extractant dispersion to said gas generator as at least a portion of the generator feedstock.
Abstract:
In the subject partial oxidation process for the continuous production of gaseous mixtures comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide separate streams of a free-oxygen-containing gas are simultaneously passed through the center conduit and through the outer annular passage of a double-annulus-type burner while a liquid hydrocarbonaceous feedstock, optionally in admixture with a temperature moderator, is simultaneously passed through the intermediate annular-passage. In one embodiment, a dispersion of petroleum oil in steam is passed through the intermediate annular passage of the burner at a velocity which is greater than the velocity of the two separate streams of oxygen which are passed respectively through the central conduit and through the outer annular-passage. Combustion efficiency may be thereby improved.
Abstract:
Production of clean fuel gas having a high heating value by means of two interconnected free-flow noncatalytic partial oxidation gas generators. All of the particulate carbon produced in the effluent gas stream from both generators is recovered and burned as a portion of the feedstock in gas generator two to maximize the methane yield in gas generator one. At least a portion of the cooled and cleaned effluent gas from gas generator 2 is recycled to gas generator 1 as the temperature moderator. The cooled, cleaned, and purified effluent gas stream from gas generator one has a minimum heating value of 400 BTU/SCF and a minimum methane content of 5.0 mole % (dry basis).
Abstract:
This is a continuous partial oxidation process for producing fuel gas or synthesis gas from solid carbonaceous fuels. In the process, two separate solid carbonaceous slurry feed streams (with the liquid vehicle being water in one slurry stream and liquid hydrocarbon fuel in the other) along with a separate stream of free-oxygen containing gas which is interposed between said slurry streams, are simultaneously introduced into a reaction zone of a free-flow noncatalytic gas generator where the three streams impinge and mix together to form an atomized dispersion that reacts by partial oxidation at an autogenous temperature in the range of about 1,500* to 3,500*F. and a pressure in the range of about 1 to 250 atmospheres. The effluent gas stream from the reaction zone is split into two streams which are separately cooled and cleaned to produce two separate gaseous streams one gaseous stream saturated with water and the other gaseous stream containing less than 15 mole % water. By the subject mixed mode operation, the weight ratios of water to fuel, oxygen to fuel, and liquid hydrocarbon fuel to total solid fuel may be lowered. This provides a more suitable, and economical gas generator operation.
Abstract:
A combustible gas is generated under pressure in a reactor by supplying fuel oil, steam and air to the reactor. The hot combustible gas withdrawn from the reactor is subjected to first and second cleaning, or purifying, steps in which solid particles are removed from the gas with at least some of these particles being returned to the reactor for reaction of the carbon content thereof in the reactor. The hot gases leave the reactor at about 1000* Centigrade and leave the second purifying step at a somewhat lower temperature. The invention provides a fuel gas substantially free of solid particles and among which would be corrosive substances.
Abstract:
A method for continuously detecting carbon deposition in a catalyst bed. Hence, processes involving reactions of carbonaceous materials can be controlled with reference to carbon deposited, thereby avoiding catalyst deterioration and loss of catalyst activity.
Abstract:
A multi-zone-plug-flow-reactor is used to produce synthetic natural gas (SNG) by thermal hydrocracking. A vaporized hydrocarbon feed and a portion of the required hydrogen is fed downwardly through the reactor initially at 800* to 1,200*F and above 200 psig. The partially thermally hydrocracked hydrocarbon feed is stepwise quenched to maintain a temperature differential of 150*F maximum between each zone and the remainder of the hydrogen is mixed with the feed at various points within the reactor to complete the hydrocracking in the last zone and thereby provide a product which is quenched to a temperature at which no further hydrocracking will occur. The reactor product is cryogenically separated to provide recycle hydrogen, gas for hydrogen generation and the SNG product.
Abstract:
This is a process for the production of synthesis gas substantially free from entrained particulate carbon. The product gas is preferably produced substantially free from volatile hydrocarbon contaminants. A feedstock comprising fresh liquid hydrocarbon oil is introduced into a distillation zone and separated into a light liquid hydrocarbon fraction and a heavy liquid hydrocarbon fraction. The light hydrocarbon fraction in admixture with a preheated slurry produced subsequently in a gas scrubbing zone and comprising particulate carbon and said heavy liquid hydrocarbon fraction are introduced into the reaction zone of a free flow noncatalytic synthesis gas generator and reacted by partial oxidation with oxygen and steam at an autogenous temperature in the range of 1,500*-3,000* F. to produce synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and appreciable amounts of entrained particulate carbon. The effluent gas from the reaction zone is cooled by indirect heat exchange and is then scrubbed free of said entrained particulate carbon in a gas scrubbing zone with said heavy liquid hydrocarbon fraction and carbon slurries thereof. The scrubbing zone is preferably maintained at a temperature and pressure so that undue stripping of volatile fractions from the scrubbing fluid is prevented. When desired, water and any vaporized hydrocarbon in the overhead from the scrubber may be condensed out and separated from the product gas stream.