IP Library Granted Patent US 6,838,071
Granted Patent B1
US 6,838,071 · App. 09/787,316 · Granted Jan 4, 2005

Process for preparing a H2-rich gas and a CO2-rich gas at high pressure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,838,071
App. No.
09/787,316
Granted
Jan 4, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

The present invention comprises a method for production of a CO 2 -rich gas stream and a H 2 -rich gas stream, the method comprising the following steps: a) natural gas and water are fed to a reforming reactor and are converted to synthesis gas under supply of a O 2 -containing gas: b) the gas stream from a) is shifted, whereby the content of CO is reduced and the amounts of CO 2 and H 2 are increased by reaction of H 2 O; c) the gas stream from b) is separated in a separation unit into a CO 2 -rich and a H 2 -rich gas stream, respectively. The invention also concerns the use of a CO 2 -rich gas stream for injection into marine formations, and the use of a H 2 -rich gas stream for hydrogenation, as a source of energy/fuel in fuel cells or for production of electricity.

Claims (19)

1. Method for production of a CO 2 -rich gas stream and a H 2 -rich gas stream, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

a) natural gas and water are fed to a reforming reactor and converted to synthesis gas under supply of an O 2 -rich gas to the reactor;

b) the gas stream from a) is shifted, in one step, whereby the content of CO is reduced and the amounts of CO 2 and H 2 are increased by reaction of H 2 O at a ratio H 2 O:CO of from 1 to 9;

c) the gas stream from b) is separated in a separation unit into a CO 2 -rich and a H 2 -rich gas stream, respectively, wherein the pressure in the CO 2 -rich gas stream after the separation is from 5 to 100 bar.

2. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the ratio H 2 O:CO in the shift process is from 1.5 to 4.

3. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the pressure in the CO 2 -rich gas stream after the separation unit is from 5 to 50 bar.

4. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the carbon part in the H 2 -rich gas stream is from 1 to 20% by volume.

5. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the carbon part in the H 2 -rich gas stream is from 5 to 15% by volume.

6. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the natural gas in step a) is supplied with air/oxygen enriched air.

7. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the reformer reactor is a partial oxidation reactor.

8. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the reformer reactor is an autothermal reformer.

9. Method according to claim 8 , characterized in that the gas stream from a combustion chamber in an autothermal reformer is contacted with a catalyst bed.

10. Method according to claim 7 , characterized in that the reforming is carried out without a catalyst.

11. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the gas stream out of the reformer has a temperature within the interval from 800 to 1200° C.

12. Method according to claim 6 , characterized in that the CO 2 -rich gas stream includes at least part of N 2 .

13. Method according to claim 1 wherein the produced CO 2 -rich gas stream is applied for injection into marine formations.

14. Method according to claim 1 wherein the produced H 2 -rich gas stream is applied for hydrogenation.

15. Method according to claim 1 wherein the produced H 2 -rich gas stream is applied as a source of energy/fuel in fuel cells.

16. Method according to claim 1 wherein the produced H 2 -rich gas stream is applied for the production of electricity.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 31, 2013
From: STATOILHYDRO ASA
To: STATOIL ASA
Reel/Frame 031528/0807 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 25, 2013
From: STATOIL ASA
To: STATOILHYDRO ASA
Reel/Frame 031495/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 21, 2013
From: DEN NORSKE STATS OLJESELSKAP AS
To: STATOIL ASA
Reel/Frame 031447/0656 →