Electrically heated reforming reactors and associated reforming processes are disclosed, which benefit from a number of advantages in terms of attaining and controlling the input of heat to catalytic conversion processes such as in the reforming of hydrocarbons (e.g., methane) using H.sub.2O and/or CO.sub.2 as an oxidant. The disclosed reactors provide the ability to target the input of heat to specific regions within a catalyst bed volume. This allows for the control of the temperature profile in one or more dimensions (e.g., axially and/or radially) and/or otherwise tailoring heat input for processing specific reformer feeds, achieving specific reformer products, effectively utilizing the catalyst, and/or compensating for a number of operating parameters (e.g., flow distribution). Dynamic control of the heat input may be used in response to changes in feed or product composition and/or catalyst activity.

A synthesis gas plant for producing a synthesis gas, where the synthesis gas plant includes a reforming section arranged to receive said feed gas and provide a combined synthesis gas, wherein said reforming section includes an electrically heated reforming reactor, a fired reforming reactor and an optional third reforming reactor. The reforming section is arranged to output a combined synthesis gas. An optional post processing unit downstream the reforming section is arranged to receive said combined synthesis gas stream and provide a post processed synthesis gas stream. A gas separation unit arranged to separate the combined synthesis gas stream or the post processed synthesis gas stream into a condensate, a product synthesis gas and an off-gas. At least a part of the off-gas is recycled from said gas separation unit to said one or more burners. Also, a process for producing synthesis gas from a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons.

A methanol synthesis plant comprising: a feed pretreating section operable to pretreat a feed stream; a synthesis gas (syngas) generation section comprising one or more reactors operable to produce a syngas synthesis product stream comprising synthesis gas from the feed stream; a methanol synthesis section comprising one or more methanol synthesis reactors operable to produce a synthesis product comprising methanol; and/or a methanol purification section operable to remove at least one component from the synthesis product to provide a purified methanol product; wherein the methanol synthesis plant is configured such that, relative to a conventional methanol synthesis plant, more of the net energy required by the methanol synthesis plant, the feed pretreating section, the syngas generation section, the methanol synthesis section, the methanol purification section, or a combination thereof, is provided by a non-carbon based energy source, a renewable energy source, and/or electricity.

The present invention describes a plasma reactor for processing natural gas and/or light hydrocarbons, including biomethane and biogas, with a plasma torch that does not require the use of cathode shielding gas (shielding gas), as well as a process for reforming using a plasma reactor for the production of synthesis gas and carbonaceous materials from natural gas and/or light hydrocarbons.

The present disclosure is related to the field of chemistry and provides methods and devices for stimulation of endothermic reactions in gas phase with high activation barriers by nanosecond pulsed electrical discharge. It can be used for, e.g., CO.sub.2 functionalization of methane, H.sub.2S dissociation, hydrogen and syngas production, for processing ammonia synthesis and dissociation, etc. Some embodiments include methods and devices associated with the stimulation of plasma chemical reactions with nanosecond pulse electric discharge in the presence of gas flow.

Process to conduct a steam cracking reaction in a fluidized bed reactor The disclosure relates to a process to perform a steam cracking reaction, said process comprising the steps of providing a fluidized bed reactor comprising at least two electrodes; and a bed comprising particles, wherein the particles are put in a fluidized state by passing upwardly through the said bed a fluid stream, to obtain a fluidized bed; heating the fluidized bed to a temperature ranging from 500° C. to 1200° C. to conduct the endothermic chemical reaction; wherein at least 10 wt. % of the particles based on the total weight of the particles of the bed are electrically conductive particles and have a resistivity ranging from 0.001 Ohm.Math.cm to 500 Ohm.Math.cm at 800° C. and in that the step of heating the fluidized bed is performed by passing an electric current through the fluidized bed.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of the gas processing system.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of this gas processing system.

A process wherein CO.sub.2, methane, and steam react at high temperatures, for instance approximately 1600° C., to form a synthetic gas or syngas. This syngas can then be used in a methanol production plant. The carbon dioxide used to produce the syngas may also comprise recovered emissions from the production of methanol or urea, such that CO.sub.2 is recycled. The rich syngas is produced by the bi-reforming of methane, featuring a combination of dry reforming of methane and steam reforming of methane, via the reaction CO.sub.2+3CH.sub.4+2H.sub.2O.fwdarw.4CO+8H.sub.2, such that the H.sub.2:CO ratio is 2. A plasma reactor may be provided for the reaction. Excess heat from the syngas may be used for heating the water that is used as steam for the reaction.

Chemical production systems which allow for an optimized carbon footprint are presented. Plasma-based reforming systems may provide a viable alternative to standard chemical production techniques, such systems can reduce the carbon footprint of the chemicals produced. Example systems include the production of synthesis gas (syngas), hydrogen, synthetic hydrocarbon fuels, ammonia, and urea. Reducing the carbon footprint of chemicals such as these is of vital importance to reducing the environmental impact of industries such as transportation and agriculture. In many of the embodiments a secondary product is produced, the sale of this secondary product may make the primary low-carbon footprint chemical more economical. In many cases the secondary product is carbon, methods of sequestering this carbon via reverse mining and enhanced oil and gas recovery are presented.