초록 ▼

A process for converting natural gas to a liquid includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily acetylene, and reacting methane and the reactive hydrocarbons in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a li

A process for converting natural gas to a liquid includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily acetylene, and reacting methane and the reactive hydrocarbons in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, predominantly pentane. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions is used to heat the incoming natural gas, either with a hydrogen furnace or by electrical energy generated from the hydrogen. Little or no use of methane is required to supply energy for the process.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What we claim is:] [1.] A method for converting natural gas to a hydrocarbon liquid and water, comprising the steps of:a) providing a stream of natural gas at a selected pressure;b) conveying the natural gas through a furnace wherein hydrogen is burned while controlling temperature of the flame an

[ What we claim is:] [1.] A method for converting natural gas to a hydrocarbon liquid and water, comprising the steps of:a) providing a stream of natural gas at a selected pressure;b) conveying the natural gas through a furnace wherein hydrogen is burned while controlling temperature of the flame and wherein the natural gas is heated to a selected range of temperature to cause a chemical reaction forming reactive products and hydrogen;c) quenching the reactive products and hydrogen;d) conveying the reactive products and hydrogen to a catalytic liquefaction reactor and providing natural gas and a catalyst in the reactor such that the reactive products and natural gas react to produce hydrogen and the hydrocarbon liquid;e) conveying hydrogen from the catalytic liquefaction reactor to the hydrogen furnace for burning so as to heat the natural gas and produce water; andf) conveying the liquid hydrocarbon and the water to storage or transport.