초록

A process for preparation of synthesis gas and/or hydrogen by counter-currently providing an oxidation reactant stream through an oxidation chamber and a reforming reactant stream through a steam reforming chamber is described. Also provided is a reactor for conducting the reaction.

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1. A fuel reforming process for generating a synthesis gas comprising: flowing an oxidation reactant stream through an oxidation chamber and a reforming reactant stream through a reforming chamber, such that the oxidation reactant stream and the reforming reactant stream are counter-current to each

1. A fuel reforming process for generating a synthesis gas comprising: flowing an oxidation reactant stream through an oxidation chamber and a reforming reactant stream through a reforming chamber, such that the oxidation reactant stream and the reforming reactant stream are counter-current to each other, a) wherein the oxidation chamber and the reforming chamber are separated by a thermally conductive surface;b) wherein the reforming chamber comprises: an inlet for the reforming reactant stream, an outlet for a reformed stream, and a reforming catalyst disposed on a plurality of heat exchange fins;c) wherein the oxidation chamber comprises: an inlet for the oxidation reactant stream, an outlet for an oxidation product stream, and an oxidation catalyst disposed on a plurality of heat exchange fins, wherein the outlet of the oxidation chamber is adjacent to the inlet of the reforming chamber and the inlet of the oxidation chamber extends beyond the outlet of the reforming chamber thereby constituting an extended oxidation chamber, and wherein the oxidation catalyst disposed on a plurality of heat exchange fins is in the extended oxidation chamber such that any heat exchange fins in the oxidation chamber beyond the extended segment do not contain catalyst coating; andd) wherein the heat exchange fins are brazed on the thermally conductive surface. 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the reforming reactant stream comprises water and methane. 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the oxidation reactant stream comprises fuel and oxygen. 4. The process of claim 1, further comprising preheating the oxidation reactant stream. 5. The process of claim 4, wherein the oxidation reactant stream is preheated to a temperature of from about 200° C. to about 300° C. 6. The process of claim 5, wherein the oxidation reactant stream is preheated to a temperature of from about 230 to about 260° C. 7. The process of claim 6 further comprising reacting the oxidation reactant stream in the extended oxidation chamber to generate heat. 8. The process of claim 7 further comprising transferring at least a part of the heat generated in the extended oxidation chamber to the oxidation reactant stream, thereby increasing the temperature of the oxidation reactant stream to a temperature of from about 800° C. to about 900° C. 9. The process of claim 8, further comprising transferring a substantial part of the heat generated in the oxidation chamber to the reforming reactant stream in the reforming chamber. 10. The process of claim 9, wherein the oxidation product stream exits the oxidation chamber at a temperature of from about 550 to about 750° C. 11. The process of claim 10, wherein the oxidation product stream exits the oxidation chamber at the temperature of from about 580 to about 620° C. 12. The process of claim 1, wherein the reforming reactant stream enters the reforming chamber at a temperature of from about 400 to about 600° C. 13. The process of claim 12, wherein the reforming reactant stream enters the reforming chamber at the temperature of from about 530 to about 560° C. 14. The process of claim 13, wherein the reformed stream exits the reforming chamber at a temperature of from about 700 to about 900° C. 15. The process of claim 13, wherein the reformed stream exits the reforming chamber at the temperature of from about 790 to about 810° C. 16. The process of claim 1 further comprising feeding the synthesis gas generated to a pressure swing unit to produce pure hydrogen. 17. The process of claim 1 further comprising feeding the synthesis gas generated to a membrane separator to produce pure hydrogen. 18. The process of claim 1 further comprising feeding the synthesis gas generated to a membrane separator to produce synthesis gas with a desired H2/CO ratio. 19. The process of claim 18, further comprising feeding the synthesis gas to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce liquid hydrocarbons. 20. The process of claim 18, further comprising feeding the synthesis gas to an alcohol synthesis reactor to produce an alcohol. 21. The process of claim 1 further comprising feeding the synthesis gas generated to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce liquid hydrocarbons. 22. The process of claim 1 further comprising feeding the synthesis gas generated to an alcohol synthesis reactor to produce alcohols. 23. A reactor for generating a synthesis gas by a fuel reforming reaction, the reactor comprising: an oxidation chamber and a reforming chamber separated by a thermally conductive surface, wherein a) the reforming chamber comprises: an inlet for a reforming reactant stream, an outlet for a reformed stream, and a reforming catalyst disposed on a plurality of heat exchange fins;b) the oxidation chamber comprises: an inlet for an oxidation reactant stream, an outlet for an oxidation product stream, and an oxidation catalyst disposed on a plurality of heat exchange fins, wherein the outlet of the oxidation chamber is adjacent to the inlet of the reforming chamber and the inlet of the oxidation chamber extends beyond the outlet of the reforming chamber thereby constituting an extended oxidation chamber, and wherein the oxidation catalyst disposed on a plurality of heat exchange fins is in the extended oxidation chamber such that any heat exchange fins in the oxidation chamber beyond the extended segment do not contain catalyst coating; andc) the heat exchange fins are brazed on the thermally conductive surface. 24. The reactor of claim 23, wherein the oxidation catalyst comprises palladium, platinum, copper or a combination thereof. 25. The reactor of claim 23, wherein the reforming catalyst comprises platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, nickel or a combination thereof. 26. The reactor of claim 23 further comprising a pressure swing adsorption unit downstream from the reforming chamber. 27. The reactor of claim 23 further comprising a membrane separator downstream from the reforming chamber. 28. The reactor of claim 27 further comprising a Fischer-Tropsch reactor downstream of the membrane separator. 29. The reactor of claim 27 further comprising an alcohol synthesis reactor downstream of the membrane separator. 30. The reactor of claim 23 further comprising a Fischer-Tropsch reactor downstream from the reforming chamber. 31. The reactor of claim 23 further comprising an alcohol synthesis reactor downstream from the reforming chamber. 32. The reactor of claim 23 further comprising multiple oxidation and reforming chambers arranged such that each oxidation chamber alternates with a reforming chamber. 33. A cylindrical reactor for generating a synthesis gas comprising an outer cylindrical chamber and an inner chamber, wherein a) the outer chamber and the inner chamber are separated by a thermally conductive surface;b) the inner chamber comprises: an inlet for a reforming reactant stream, an outlet for a reformed stream, and a reforming catalyst disposed on a plurality of heat exchange fins;c) the outer chamber comprises: an inlet for an oxidation reactant stream, an outlet for an oxidation product stream, wherein the outlet of the outer chamber is adjacent to the inlet of the inner chamber and the inlet of the outer chamber extends beyond the outlet of the inner chamber thereby constituting an extended outer chamber, and wherein the oxidation catalyst disposed on a plurality of heat exchange fins is in the extended oxidation chamber such that any heat exchange fins in the oxidation chamber beyond the extended segment do not contain catalyst coating; andd) the heat exchange fins are brazed on the thermally conductive surface.