Abstract:
Synthesis gas is produced from a methane-containing reactant gas in a mixed conducting membrane reactor in which the reactor is operated to maintain the product gas outlet temperature above the reactant gas feed temperature wherein the total gas pressure on the oxidant side of the membrane is less than the total gas pressure on the reactant side of the membrane. Preferably, the reactant gas feed temperature is below a maximum threshold temperature of about 1400.degree. F. (760.degree. C.), and typically is between about 950.degree. F. (510.degree. C.) and about 1400.degree. F. (760.degree. C.). The maximum temperature on the reactant side of the membrane reactor is greater than about 1500.degree. F. (815.degree. C.).
Abstract:
Natural gas or other methane-containing feed gas is converted to a C.sub.5 -C.sub.19 hydrocarbon liquid in an integrated system comprising an oxygenative synthesis gas generator, a non-oxygenative synthesis gas generator, and a hydrocarbon synthesis process such as the Fischer-Tropsch process. The oxygenative synthesis gas generator is a mixed conducting membrane reactor system and the non-oxygenative synthesis gas generator is preferably a heat exchange reformer wherein heat is provided by hot synthesis gas product from the mixed conducting membrane reactor system. Offgas and water from the Fischer-Tropsch process can be recycled to the synthesis gas generation system individually or in combination.
Abstract:
Hydrocarbon feedstocks are converted into synthesis gas in a two-stage process comprising an initial steam reforming step followed by final conversion to synthesis gas in a mixed conducting membrane reactor. The steam reforming step converts a portion of the methane into synthesis gas and converts essentially all of the hydrocarbons heavier than methane into methane, hydrogen, and carbon oxides. The steam reforming step produces an intermediate feed stream containing methane, hydrogen, carbon oxides, and steam which can be processed without operating problems in a mixed conducting membrane reactor. The steam reforming and mixed conducting membrane reactors can be heat-integrated for maximum operating efficiency and produce synthesis gas with compositions suitable for a variety of final products. Synthesis gas produced by the methods of the invention is further reacted to yield liquid hydrocarbon or oxygenated organic liquid products.
Abstract:
Synthesis gas is produced from a methane-containing reactant gas in a mixed conducting membrane reactor in which the reactor is operated to maintain the product gas outlet temperature above the reactant gas feed temperature wherein the total gas pressure on the oxidant side of the membrane is less than the total gas pressure on the reactant side of the membrane. Preferably, the reactant gas feed temperature is below a maximum threshold temperature of about 1400° F. (760° C.), and typically is between about 950° F. (510° C.) and about 1400° F. (760° C.). The maximum temperature on the reactant side of the membrane reactor is greater than about 1500° F. (815° C.).
Abstract:
Hydrocarbon feedstocks are converted into synthesis gas in a two-stage process comprising an initial steam reforming step followed by final conversion to synthesis gas in a mixed conducting membrane reactor. The steam reforming step converts a portion of the methane into synthesis gas and converts essentially all of the hydrocarbons heavier than methane into methane, hydrogen, and carbon oxides. The steam reforming step produces an intermediate feed stream containing methane, hydrogen, carbon oxides, and steam which can be processed without operating problems in a mixed conducting membrane reactor. The steam reforming and mixed conducting membrane reactors can be heat-integrated for maximum operating efficiency and produce synthesis gas with compositions suitable for a variety of final products.
Abstract:
Oxygen is recovered from a hot, compressed oxygen-containing gas, preferably air, by an oxygen-selective ion transport membrane system. Hot, pressurized non-permeate gas from the membrane is cooled and useful work is recovered therefrom by expansion at temperatures below the operating temperature of the membrane. The recovered work is used together with the oxygen permeate product in applications such as oxygen-enriched combustion of liquid fuels, wood pulping processes, steel production from scrap in mini-mills, and metal fabrication operations. Oxygen permeate product can be compressed utilizing a gas booster compressor driven by expansion of cooled, pressurized non-permeate gas.
Abstract:
An electrochemical device is disclosed comprising a plurality of planar electrolytic cells connected in series, each cell having an oxygen ion-conducting electrolyte layer, an anode layer and a cathode layer associated with the electrolyte layer, electrically conductive interconnect layers having gas passages situated therein for transporting gaseous streams, which interconnect layers electrically connect the anode layer of each electrolytic cell to the cathode layer of an adjacent planar cell, and sealing means positioned between the interconnect layers and the electrolytic cells to provide a gas-tight seal therebetween. The configuration of the interconnect layer and the placement of the seal means provides a separation between the seal and the conductive pathway of electrons between the anode layer and cathode layer which prevents corrosion or deterioration of the seal.