A chemical reactor including reformer tubes for reforming a first feed stream including a hydrocarbon gas and steam. The chemical reactor includes one or more reformer tubes arranged to being heated by an electrically driven heat source. The reformer tube includes a first inlet for feeding said first feed stream into a first reforming reaction zone of the reformer tube, and a feed conduit arranged to allow a second feed stream into a second reforming reaction zone of the reformer tube. The second reforming reaction zone is positioned downstream of the first reforming reaction zone. The feed conduit is configured so that the second feed stream is only in contact with catalyst material in the second reforming reaction zone. A process of producing CO rich synthesis gas at low S/C conditions.

There is described a reforming unit for hydrogen production and a power generation device incorporating at least the reforming unit for generating electricity. The reforming unit generally has a catalytic burner defining a burner cavity; a reaction assembly within the burner cavity and in thermal communication therewith, the reaction assembly including; a reactor conduit extending annularly around an axis and axially between an input port and an output port, the input port being fluidly coupled to a wet fuel source supplying wet fuel, the reactor conduit having distributed therein a plurality of catalyst elements; and a syngas conduit extending along the axis, within the reactor conduit and in thermal communication therewith, the syngas conduit having an input port fluidly coupled to the output port of the reactor conduit, and an output port; the catalytic burner having a plurality of heating devices surrounding the burner cavity.

Processes and catalysts for producing hydrogen by reforming methane are disclosed, which afford considerable flexibility in terms of the quality of the reformer feed. This can be attributed to the robustness of the noble metal-containing catalysts described herein for use in reforming, such that a number of components commonly present in methane-containing process streams can advantageously be maintained without conventional upgrading (pretreating) steps, thereby improving process economics. This also allows for the reforming of impure reformer feeds, even in relatively small quantities, which may be characterized as complex gas mixtures due to significant quantities of non-methane components. A representative reforming catalyst comprises 1 wt-% Pt and 1 wt-% Rh as noble metals, on a cerium oxide support.

A system for measuring a specific temperature for at least one reforming tube present in a steam methane reforming furnace having, for at least one row of tubes, a means for measuring at least one synthesis gas temperature at the tube outlet, the measuring means being disposed along the length of the manifold associated with the row of tubes provided with at least one temperature sensor, a second part extending the first part, and a third part having instrumentation configured for calculating the temperature from the data acquired by the first part of the means and transferred by the second part of the means. A positioning means for positioning the temperature sensor in the longitudinal manifold, and a sealed outlet means for the second part of the measurement means toward the outside of the system for collecting the synthesis gas.

An apparatus for hydrogen production from a hydrocarbon feed, the apparatus including at least one steam reformer provided with an electrically heated steam reformer furnace having a plurality of catalytic tubes, where one or more heat generating electrical devices are arranged around a heating area of each of said catalytic tubes.

Methods of using sorbents to enhance the production of hydrogen from fuel, and related systems, are generally described. In some embodiments, the production of hydrogen from the fuel involves a reforming reaction and/or a gasification reaction combined with a water-gas shift reaction.

A method for hydrogen production starting from a hydrocarbon feed, including a step of reacting the hydrocarbon feed with water steam to obtain a gas stream including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide (syngas), heat being provided to the step of reacting the hydrocarbon feed with water steam, the heat being obtained by electrically powered sources; and including removing carbon dioxide from the gas stream. The embodiments further relate to a plant for hydrogen production starting from a hydrocarbon feed, including an electrically powered steam reformer and at least one CO.sub.2 capture system, arranged downstream the electrically powered steam reformer.

A process is described for treating a natural gas stream containing methane and one or more higher hydrocarbons including the steps of mixing at least a portion of the natural gas stream with steam; passing the mixture adiabatically over a supported precious metal reforming catalyst to generate a reformed gas mixture comprising methane, steam, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen; cooling the reformed gas mixture to below the dew point to condense water and removing the condensate to provide a de-watered reformed gas mixture, and passing the de-watered reformed gas mixture through an acid gas recovery unit to remove carbon dioxide and at least a portion of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide, thereby generating a methane stream. The methane stream may be used to adjust the composition of a natural gas stream, including a vaporized LNG stream, to meet pipeline specifications.

A box style steam methane reformer has plural sections, with each section having walls forming an interior cavity and open ends that communicate with the interior cavity. Each section has a feedstock supply pipe and a fuel supply pipe located along the top wall, as well as a syngas collection pipe and a flue gas collection duct located outside of the bottom wall. The pipes and ducts have ends that are aligned with each other to allow the sections to be assembled together. Burners are located in the interior cavity and are connected to the fuel supply pipe. Reactor tubes extend through the interior cavity. The bottom ends are supported by the syngas collection pipe and the top ends are spring supported to allow for expansion and contraction. Refractory members are located in the interior cavity and across a slot leading to the flue gas collection dust. The spacing between the refractory members varies to control the flow of flue gas.

Disclosed is an alternative fuel fueling station useful for fueling both electrical and hydrogen alternative fuel vehicles simultaneously. The alternative fuel fueling station includes a solid oxide fuel cell, an electrical conduit, and a compressed hydrogen conduit, such that the alternative fuel fueling station can fuel both the electrical and hydrogen alternative fuel vehicles simultaneously.