APPARATUS FOR STEAM-METHANE REFORMING
Apparatuses for use in plants for processing methane, the apparatuses comprising a plurality of reaction modules each including a plurality of Fischer-Tropsch reactors operable to convert a gaseous mixture including carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a liquid hydrocarbon. Each module may be disconnected and taken away for servicing while allowing the plant to continue to operate. In some of the apparatuses, each Fischer-Tropsch reactor comprises a plurality of metal sheets arranged as a stack to define first and second flow channels for flow of respective fluids, the channels being arranged alternately to ensure good thermal contact between the fluids in the channels.
1 . An apparatus for use in a plant for processing methane, the apparatus comprising a plurality of reaction modules each including a plurality of Fischer-Tropsch reactors operable to convert a gaseous mixture including carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a liquid hydrocarbon, wherein each module may be disconnected and taken away for servicing, whilst allowing the plant to continue to operate.
2 . An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each Fischer-Tropsch reactor comprises a plurality of metal sheets arranged as a stack to define first and second flow channels for flow of respective fluids, the channels being arranged alternately to ensure good thermal contact between the fluids in the channels.
3 . An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein both the first flow channels and the second flow channels are less than 5 mm deep in a direction normal to the center plane of the sheets
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of Fisher-Tropsch reactors includes a removable catalyst.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of Fisher-Tropsch reactors includes a catalyst selected from the group comprising iron, cobalt and fused magnetite.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the catalyst is supported on γ-alumina.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the γ-alumina has a surface area of 140-230 m2/g.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of Fisher-Tropsch reactors includes a catalyst comprising about 35% by weight of cobalt.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the catalyst is provided with a promoter selected from the group comprising ruthenium, platinum, gadolinium and rhenium.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reaction module is small enough to be transported in an ISO structural frame.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of Fisher-Tropsch reactors are arranged such that the gaseous mixture may flow in parallel through the plurality of Fisher-Tropsch reactors.