Methane may be reformed through use of a solar reformer. Example methods of methane conversion through solar energy may include: supplying water and methane to a reaction chamber of a solar reformer unit; directing, using a solar reflector external to the reaction chamber, sunlight to one or more exterior solar absorbers of one or more solar absorbers; converting the sunlight into heat with the one or more solar absorbers; directing a portion of the heat converted by the one or more exterior solar absorbers to an interior of the reaction chamber using one or more light-porous pipes disposed within the reaction chamber; vaporizing at least a portion of the water to steam; and generating, within the reaction chamber, a reformate gas from the methane and the steam by a steam-methane reaction aided by one or more catalyst rods disposed within the reaction chamber.

A process for steam reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock containing one or more nitrogen compounds, including passing a mixture of the hydrocarbon feedstock and steam through a catalyst bed of one or more nickel steam reforming catalysts disposed within a plurality of externally heated tubes in a tubular steam reformer, each tube having an inlet to which the mixture of hydrocarbon and steam is fed, an outlet from which a reformed gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, steam, ammonia and methane is recovered. The steam reforming catalyst at least at the outlet of the tubes comprises nickel dispersed over a porous metal oxide surface present as a coating on a non-porous metal or ceramic structure The nickel content of the metal oxide coating is in the range of 5 to 50% by weight and the thickness of the coating is in the range of 5 to 150 micrometres.

A steam reformer is provided which comprises at least one externally-heated tube. Each tube comprises a first catalyst bed comprising a first catalyst in particulate form and a second catalyst supported on a structure, wherein said first catalyst bed is located between the inlet of the tube and the second catalyst supported on said structure. A process for steam reforming of a feed gas mixture using said steam reformer is also provided.

The present invention addresses to a method of preparing steam reforming catalysts, of the eggshell type, using a solution of glycerin, in polar solvent, preferably water, to occupy the pores of a support. Next, the solvent is removed and the support is impregnated with a nickel salt solution, which may contain promoters such as rare earths. The steps can be repeated until the desired content of the active phase and promoters is reached.