초록 ▼

A process for producing carbon monoxide (CO) by reforming methane and steam in the presence of a reforming catalyst to produce a reformate product enriched in CO, carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and hydrogen. CO.sub.2 in the enriched reformate is shifted to CO in an integrated sorption enhanced reaction (

A process for producing carbon monoxide (CO) by reforming methane and steam in the presence of a reforming catalyst to produce a reformate product enriched in CO, carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and hydrogen. CO.sub.2 in the enriched reformate is shifted to CO in an integrated sorption enhanced reaction (SER) cycle which employs a series of cyclic steps to facilitate reaction of CO.sub.2 and hydrogen at high conversion and to produce a CO-enriched product obtained at reactor feed pressure and at essentially constant flow rate. A series of adsorbent regeneration step including depressurization, purging and product pressurization are used to desorb water which is selectively adsorbed by the adsorbent during the shift reaction and to prepare the reactor for a subsequent process cycle.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A process for producing carbon monoxide which comprises the steps of:(a) reacting a feed stock comprising methane and water in the presence of a steam methane reforming catalyst at a temperature ranging from 700.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. and a pressure ranging from 2 to 50 at

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A process for producing carbon monoxide which comprises the steps of:(a) reacting a feed stock comprising methane and water in the presence of a steam methane reforming catalyst at a temperature ranging from 700.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C. and a pressure ranging from 2 to 50 atmospheres to form a reformate comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and unreacted feedstock;(b) removing water from the reformate to form a water-depleted reformate and heating the water-depleted reformate to a temperature ranging from 200.degree. to 500.degree. C. to form a heated water-depleted reformate;(c) introducing the heated water-depleted reformate into a plurality of reactors operated isothermally in a predetermined timed sequence and according to the following steps which are performed in a cycle within each reactor:(1) reacting the heated water-depleted reformate at a first pressure in a first reactor containing an admixture of a water adsorbent and a water gas shift catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen to carbon monoxide and to adsorb water onto the adsorbent and withdrawing a CO-enriched stream under a relatively constant flow rate at the first pressure;(2) countercurrently depressurizing the first reactor to a second pressure by withdrawing a mixture comprising unreacted feedstock, carbon monoxide and water;(3) countercurrently purging the first reactor at the second pressure with a weakly adsorbing purge fluid with respect to the adsorbent wherein the weakly adsorbing purge fluid is a fluid other than a CO-enriched fluid to desorb water from the adsorbent and withdrawing a mixture comprising unreacted feedstock, carbon monoxide and water;(4) countercurrently purging the first reactor at the second pressure with a CO-enriched purge fluid which does not comprise hydrogen and carbon dioxide to desorb the weakly adsorbing purge fluid and withdrawing a mixture comprising the weakly adsorbing purge fluid, carbon monoxide and water; and(5) countercurrently pressurizing the first reactor from the second pressure to the first pressure with the CO-enriched purge fluid prior to commencing another process cycle within the first reactor.