A method for decreasing the SFFC of a steam reforming plant, including establishing a base operating mode. Then modifying the base operating mode by introducing the shift gas stream into a solvent based, non-cryogenic separator prior to introduction into the pressure swing adsorption and introducing the compressed hydrogen depleted off-gas stream in a membrane separation unit, wherein the membrane is configured to produce the hydrogen enriched permeate stream at a suitable pressure to allow the hydrogen enriched permeate stream to be combined with carbon dioxide lean shift gas stream, prior to introduction into the pressure swing adsorption unit without requiring additional compression. Thereby establishing a modified operating mode. Wherein said pressure swing adsorption unit has a modified overall hydrogen recovery. Wherein said modified operating mode has a modified hydrogen production, a modified hydrogen production unit firing duty, a modified SCO2e, and a modified SFFC.

A method for decreasing the SFFC of a steam reforming plant, including establishing a base operating mode. Then modifying the base operating mode by introducing the shift gas stream into a solvent based, non-cryogenic separator prior to introduction into the pressure swing adsorption and introducing the compressed hydrogen depleted off-gas stream in a membrane separation unit, wherein the membrane is configured to produce the hydrogen enriched permeate stream at a suitable pressure to allow the hydrogen enriched permeate stream to be combined with carbon dioxide lean shift gas stream, prior to introduction into the pressure swing adsorption unit without requiring additional compression. Thereby establishing a modified operating mode. Wherein said pressure swing adsorption unit has a modified overall hydrogen recovery. Wherein said modified operating mode has a modified hydrogen production, a modified hydrogen production unit firing duty, a modified SCO2e, and a modified SFFC.

A membrane is described for purifying or separating hydrogen from a multi-component gas stream such as syngas. This membrane uses a molecular pre-treatment, a transition metal, fluorine containing polymer, carbon fibers and carbon matrix sintered on a supportive screen. The membrane may be a bilayer membrane comprised of a layer containing high surface area carbon and another layer containing lower surface area carbon. Methods for purifying hydrogen are also described.

This invention integrates a membrane with a steam reformer such that a membrane is placed between a raw biogas feed, and a steam reformer to supply a retentate of purified methane feed to the steam reformer and the permeate as fuel to the steam reformer,

A method of producing liquid fuel and/or chemicals from a carbonaceous material entails combusting a conditioned syngas in pulse combustion heat exchangers of a steam reformer to help convert carbonaceous material into first reactor product gas which includes carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases. A portion of the first reactor product gas is transferred to a hydrogen reformer into which additional conditioned syngas is added and a reaction carried out to produce an improved syngas. The improved syngas is then subject to one or more gas clean-up steps to form a new conditioned syngas. A portion of the new conditioned syngas is recycled to be used as the conditioned syngas in the pulse combustion heat exchangers and in the hydrocarbon reformer. A system for carrying out the method include, a steam reformer, a hydrocarbon reformer, first and second gas-cleanup systems, a synthesis system and an upgrading system.

A method of producing liquid fuel and/or chemicals from a carbonaceous material entails combusting a conditioned syngas in pulse combustion heat exchangers of a steam reformer to help convert carbonaceous material into first reactor product gas which includes carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases. A portion of the first reactor product gas is transferred to a hydrogen reformer into which additional conditioned syngas is added and a reaction carried out to produce an improved syngas. The improved syngas is then subject to one or more gas clean-up steps to form a new conditioned syngas. A portion of the new conditioned syngas is recycled to be used as the conditioned syngas in the pulse combustion heat exchangers and in the hydrocarbon reformer. A system for carrying out the method include, a steam reformer, a hydrocarbon reformer, first and second gas-cleanup systems, a synthesis system and an upgrading system.

The present disclosure relates to a process for the production of carburized sponge iron. The process comprises the steps of reducing iron ore pellets using a carbon-lean reducing gas in a direct reduction shaft reactor to provide a sponge iron intermediate; transferring the sponge iron intermediate to a carburization unit; and carburizing the sponge iron intermediate in the carburization unit using a carburizing gas to provide carburized sponge iron. The disclosure further relates to a system for the production of carburized sponge iron, a carburized sponge iron produced by the aforementioned process, and a sponge iron intermediate obtained during the production of such a carburized sponge iron.

A method and a system for the coproduction of hydrogen, electrical power, and heat energy. An exemplary method includes desulfurizing a feed stream to form a desulfurized feed stream, reforming the desulfurized feed stream to form a methane rich gas, and providing the methane rich gas to a membrane separator. A hydrogen stream is produced in a permeate from the membrane separator. A retentate stream from the membrane separator is provided to a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Electrical power is produced in the SOFC from the retentate stream.

An apparatus for producing synthesis gas (syngas) is provided. The apparatus includes a hub, including an autothermal dry reforming of methane apparatus, configured to receive CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2, and configured to produce a first stream of syngas with low a H.sub.2/CO mole ratio; an autothermal steam reforming of methane apparatus, configured to receive steam and O.sub.2, and configured to produce a second stream of syngas with a high H.sub.2/CO mole ratio; an H.sub.2 separation apparatus, configured to receive H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2, and coupled to the autothermal dry reforming of methane apparatus to deliver CO.sub.2 thereto; and a reactor for converting CO to H.sub.2 using a water-gas shift reaction, coupled to the autothermal steam reforming of methane apparatus to receive the second stream of syngas, and coupled to the H.sub.2 separation apparatus to deliver a stream of H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 thereto. A method for producing synthesis gas is provided. The method includes configuring an autothermal dry reforming of methane apparatus to receive CO.sub.2 from industrial emission sources and an H.sub.2 separation apparatus, which receives H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 from a water gas shift reactor fed with a portion of the second stream of syngas from an autothermal steam reforming of methane apparatus.

An apparatus for producing synthesis gas (syngas) is provided. The apparatus includes a hub, including an autothermal dry reforming of methane apparatus, configured to receive CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2, and configured to produce a first stream of syngas with low a H.sub.2/CO mole ratio; an autothermal steam reforming of methane apparatus, configured to receive steam and O.sub.2, and configured to produce a second stream of syngas with a high H.sub.2/CO mole ratio; an H.sub.2 separation apparatus, configured to receive H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2, and coupled to the autothermal dry reforming of methane apparatus to deliver CO.sub.2 thereto; and a reactor for converting CO to H.sub.2 using a water-gas shift reaction, coupled to the autothermal steam reforming of methane apparatus to receive the second stream of syngas, and coupled to the H.sub.2 separation apparatus to deliver a stream of H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 thereto. A method for producing synthesis gas is provided. The method includes configuring an autothermal dry reforming of methane apparatus to receive CO.sub.2 from industrial emission sources and an H.sub.2 separation apparatus, which receives H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 from a water gas shift reactor fed with a portion of the second stream of syngas from an autothermal steam reforming of methane apparatus.