The invention relates to a method for producing hydrogen gas and optionally a carbonaceous product from a hydrocarbon fuel, comprising: introducing a flowing stream of said fuel into a reaction chamber of a reactor, wherein said reaction chamber has at least one wall and a heating zone which is heated by a heat source, heating said fuel in said heating zone to effect pyrolytic decomposition of said hydrocarbon fuel to produce said hydrogen gas and optionally said carbonaceous product; wherein the ratio of C:O (mol/mol) in the reaction chamber is greater than 20:1; and characterized in that the heat source heats the hydrocarbon fuel in the heating zone by radiated heat to an average temperature of greater than 2000 C.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention.

A hydrogen production apparatus including a desulfurizer, a reformer, a CO transformer a gas flow path, and a purge gas supply path which is provided where a purge gas is supplied to an upstream side of a pressure feeding apparatus in the gas flow path, prior to a stopping operation, a purging step of replacing gas within the gas flow path with the purge gas and filling the purge gas into the gas flow path is performed, and in a start-up operation in which a heating means is operated to increase the temperature of the gas within the gas flow path, which is performed prior to a hydrogen purification operation, a pressure increasing step of supplying the purge gas from the purge gas supply path to the closed circulation circuit and increasing the pressure within the closed circulation circuit is performed.

The present invention provides a steam reforming process for heavy oil or hydrocarbons using a circulating fluidized bed reactor, the process having a reforming step and a regeneration step, wherein the reforming step and the regeneration step comprise a bubbling fluidized reactor containing a fluidizable nickel-containing reforming catalyst and produce hydrogen as a product of the reforming bed. The API gravity of the feedstock may be between 11 and 54, preferably between 11 and 20. The present invention also provides a fluidized bed hydrocarbon steam reforming process using a regenerable catalyst to produce hydrogen, wherein a circulating bed reactor is operated in an alternating manner, switching between two steps: reforming and regeneration; using a mixture of a fluidizable solid and a fluidizable nickel-containing reforming catalyst; producing hydrogen as a product of the reforming step with a minimum hydrogen content of 25 volume percent, preferably at least 60 volume % and more preferably at least 70 volume percent on a dry weight basis.

A process for optimizing a biomass feedstock for gasification for the production of syngas. The biomass feed, which is preferably a lignocellulosic material, is subjected to controlled torrefaction followed by steam stripping of the torrefied solids. The biomass undergoes a weight loss of about 10% to 15% on a dry ash free basis. This increases the energy density and friability of the stripped torrefied biomass and results in higher efficiency on subsequent densification or gasification.

A method for producing elemental carbon and hydrogen gas directly from a hydrocarbon (for example, natural gas or methane) using a chemical reaction or series of reactions. In an aspect, other materials involved such as, for example, elemental magnesium, remain unchanged and function as a catalyst.

The present disclosure is directed to steam reformers for the production of a hydrogen rich reformate, comprising a shell having a first end, a second end, and a passage extending generally between the first end and the second end of the shell, and at least one heat source disposed about the second end of the shell. The shell comprises at least one conduit member comprising at least one thermally emissive and high radiant emissivity material, at least partially disposed within the shell cavity. The shell further comprises at least one reactor module at least a portion of which is disposed within the shell cavity and about the at least one conduit member and comprises at least one reforming catalyst. The disclosure is also directed to methods of producing a hydrogen reformate utilizing the steam reformers, comprising the steps of combusting a combustible mixture in a burner to produce a combustion exhaust that interacts with the steam reactor module(s) through surface to surface radiation and convection heat transfer, and reforming a hydrocarbon fuel mixed with steam in the steam reformers to produce a hydrogen-containing reformate. The present disclosure is further directed to reactor modules for use with the above steam reformers and methods of producing a hydrogen reformate.

The present invention relates to a method for producing syngas using a catalytic reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction, the method at least comprising the steps of: a) providing a feed stream (10) comprising at least hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2); b) heating the feed stream (10) provided in step a) in a first heat exchanger (3) thereby obtaining a first heated feed stream (20); c) introducing the first heated feed stream (20) into a RWGS reactor (2) and subjecting it to a catalytic RWGS reaction, thereby obtaining a syngas containing stream (30); d) cooling the syngas containing stream (30) obtained in step c) in the first heat exchanger (3) against the feed stream (10) provided in step a), thereby obtaining a first cooled syngas stream (40); c) cooling the first cooled syngas stream (40) obtained in step d) in a second heat exchanger (5) thereby obtaining a second cooled syngas stream (50); f) separating the second cooled syngas stream (50) obtained in step e) in a gas/liquid separator (6) thereby obtaining a water-enriched stream (110) and a water-depleted syngas stream (100); g) separating the water-depleted syngas stream (100) obtained in step f) in a CO.sub.2 removal unit (8) thereby obtaining a CO.sub.2-enriched stream (120) and a CO.sub.2-depleted syngas stream (130): and31?h) combining the CO.sub.2-enriched stream (120) obtained in step g) with the feed stream (10) provided in step a).

A method of producing synthesis gas includes directing a first flow of hot synthesis gas through a first conduit, and directing a second flow of feed gas through at least one second conduit. The second conduit contains a reforming catalyst. The feed gas includes a mixture of steam and a hydrocarbon gas. The second conduit has an outer surface in contact with the hot synthesis gas. Heat from the hot synthesis gas is transferred across the second conduit to the feed gas thereby heating the feed gas and cooling the hot synthesis gas. The heated feed gas contacts the reforming catalyst and undergoes a reforming reaction that produces a third flow of synthesis gas.

The present invention relates to a process for heating an ATR or POX comprising the steps of heating a process stream by at least one heating means, admitting the heated process stream to an ATR or POX reactor through a main burner, and heating the ATR or POX reactor to or above autoignition temperature of the process stream via the heated process stream.

The present disclosure is directed to steam reformers for the production of a hydrogen rich reformate, comprising a shell having a first end, a second end, and a passage extending generally between the first end and the second end of the shell, and at least one heat source disposed about the second end of the shell. The shell comprises at least one conduit member comprising at least one thermally emissive and high radiant emissivity material, at least partially disposed within the shell cavity. The shell further comprises at least one reactor module at least a portion of which is disposed within the shell cavity and about the at least one conduit member and comprises at least one reforming catalyst. The disclosure is also directed to methods of producing a hydrogen reformate utilizing the steam reformers, comprising the steps of combusting a combustible mixture in a burner to produce a combustion exhaust that interacts with the steam reactor module(s) through surface to surface radiation and convection heat transfer, and reforming a hydrocarbon fuel mixed with steam in the steam reformers to produce a hydrogen-containing reformate. The present disclosure is further directed to reactor modules for use with the above steam reformers and methods of producing a hydrogen reformate.