Process and device for the steam reforming and steam cracking of hydrocarbons

1. A furnace having a first and at least one second combustion chamber and at least one reactor tube extending through the first and the at least one second combustion chamber for receiving a material stream that is to be heated, thereby flowing first through the first combustion chamber, and then through the at least one second combustion chamber, at least one first burner in the first combustion chamber, for burning a fuel and generating a flame to heat the material stream, wherein a first temperature generated in the first combustion chamber and a second temperature generated in the at least one second combustion chamber are each adjustable separately, characterized in that the furnace has at least one second burner in the at least one second combustion chamber to oxidize flamelessly a fuel.

2. The furnace according to claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one first burner is located on a ceiling or on a base of the first combustion chamber, wherein, the at least one reactor tube enters the first combustion chamber on the side of the first combustion chamber where the at least one first burner is located, and wherein, the at least one reactor tube exits from the first combustion chamber on the side of the first combustion chamber that is opposite the location of the at least one first burner.

3. The furnace according to claim 1 , characterized in that the furnace has a fire box which is subdivided by at least one wall into the first combustion chamber and the at least one second combustion chamber.

4. The furnace according to claim 1 , characterized in that a first temperature generated in the first combustion chamber is higher than a second temperature generated in the at least one second combustion chamber, wherein the difference between the first temperature and the second temperature is several 100 K.

5. The furnace according to claim 4 , characterized in that the second temperature is homogenous and is adjustable.

6. The furnace according to claim 3 , characterized in that combustion chambers are formed by separate fire boxes.

7. A process for heating a material stream in at least one reactor tube of a furnace the process comprising heating the material stream in a first combustion chamber of the furnace, to a first temperature, and subsequently heating the material stream to a second temperature in at least one second combustion chamber of the furnace, wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are separately adjustable, characterized in that the second temperature is homogenous.

8. The process according to claim 7 , characterized in that the material stream contains hydrocarbon compounds and steam, wherein the hydrocarbons are reacted with the water to form hydrogen and oxidized carbon compounds.

9. The process according to claim 8 , characterized in that the hydrocarbon compounds, are naphtha, propane, butane or ethane, and wherein the hydrocarbon compounds are reacted with the water to form olefins.

10. The process according to claim 7 , characterized in that the material stream contains propane and steam, wherein the propane is reacted to form propene.

11. The process according to claim 8 , characterized in that the hydrocarbons are reacted with the water in the presence of a catalyst.

12. The process according to 9 , characterized in that olefins are ethene or propene.

13. The process according to claim 10 , characterized in that the propane is reacted in the presence of a catalyst.