Chemical looping reform methods comprising heating an oxygen carrier in the presence of a catalyst and plasma radicals to react the oxygen carrier with a fuel to provide a reduced oxygen carrier; and contacting the reduced oxygen carrier with water or carbon dioxide to produce hydrogen or carbon monoxide, respectively, and regenerate the oxygen carrier. The chemical looping reform methods are carried out at low temperatures such as from 150° C. to 1000° C., preferably from 150° C. to 500° C. Catalyst used in the chemical looping reform methods include a sintered rare earth metal oxide oxygen carrier and perovskite. Methods of preparing the catalyst are also provided.

A reactor system for carrying out an endothermic reaction of a feed gas, including: a structured catalyst arranged for catalyzing the endothermic reaction of a feed gas, the structured catalyst including a macroscopic structure of electrically conductive material, the macroscopic structure supporting a ceramic coating, wherein the ceramic coating supports a catalytically active material; a pressure shell housing the structured catalyst; heat insulation layer between the structured catalyst and the pressure shell; at least two conductors electrically connected to the electrically conductive material and to an electrical power supply placed outside the pressure shell, wherein the electrical power supply is dimensioned to heat at least part of said structured catalyst to a temperature of at least 200° C. by passing an electrical current through the electrically conductive material. Also, a process for performing an endothermic reaction of a feed gas.

The present invention relates to a revamp method for increasing the front-end capacity of a plant comprising a reforming section, wherein a feed is reformed in at least one reforming step to a reformed stream comprising CH.sub.4, CO, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 and H.sub.2O a shift section wherein the reformed stream is shifted in a shift reaction in at least a high temperature shift step,
said method comprising the steps of In the High temperature shift step exchanging an original Fe-based catalyst with a non-Fe-based catalyst Increasing the feed flow to the reforming section, and The HTS step is carried out at a reduced steam/dry-gas ratio (S/DG) compared to an original S/DG in the original HTS step with the original Fe-based catalyst.

The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing an olefin-containing feed stream for a steam reforming plant. According to the invention, the olefin-containing hydrocarbon starting material is for this purpose heated, vaporized and catalytically hydrogenated. The hydrogenation product stream obtained is separated in a separation apparatus into a gaseous reforming feed stream, which is fed to a steam reforming plant, and a gaseous recycle stream. Here, the entry temperature of the hydrogenation input stream into the hydrogenation reactor is regulated via the degree to which it is heated and/or via the size of the recycle stream. Safe operation of the hydrogenation reactor over a wide range of olefin contents in the hydrocarbon feed is made possible in this way.

Chemical looping reform methods comprising heating an oxygen carrier in the presence of a catalyst and plasma radicals to react the oxygen carrier with a fuel to provide a reduced oxygen carrier; and contacting the reduced oxygen carrier with water or carbon dioxide to produce hydrogen or carbon monoxide, respectively, and regenerate the oxygen carrier. The chemical looping reform methods are carried out at low temperatures such as from 150 C. to 1000 C., preferably from 150 C. to 500 C. Catalyst used in the chemical looping reform methods include a sintered rare earth metal oxide oxygen carrier and perovskite. Methods of preparing the catalyst are also provided.

This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing a mixed feed stream for a steam reforming plant from a first feed stream containing methane and a second feed stream comprising higher hydrocarbons, olefins and diolefins. According to the invention, the required hydrogenation of the mono- and diolefins and the hydrodesulfurization of the organic sulfur compounds contained in the feed stream are carried out step by step under process conditions optimized in each case. Furthermore, the inlet temperature into the respective reaction zone is controlled such that overheating of the feedstocks is avoided, which otherwise leads to undesired coke deposits, cloggings and the accelerated deactivation of the catalysts used.

Various techniques are disclosed for pretreating municipal solid waste (MSW) and other biomass-containing feedstocks that may be of a poorer quality and consequently more difficult, or even impossible, to convert to higher value liquid products (e.g., transportation fuels) using conventional processes. Such conventional processes may otherwise be satisfactory for the conversion of the biomass portion of the feedstock alone. The pretreatment of biomass-containing feedstocks may generally include steps carried out prior to a hydropyrolysis step and optionally further steps, in order to change one or more characteristics of the feedstock, rendering it more easily upgradable.

The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing an olefin-containing feed stream for a steam reforming plant. According to the invention, the olefin-containing hydrocarbon starting material is for this purpose heated, vaporized and catalytically hydrogenated. The hydrogenation product stream obtained is separated in a separation apparatus into a gaseous reforming feed stream, which is fed to a steam reforming plant, and a gaseous recycle stream. Here, the entry temperature of the hydrogenation input stream into the hydrogenation reactor is regulated via the degree to which it is heated and/or via the size of the recycle stream. Safe operation of the hydrogenation reactor over a wide range of olefin contents in the hydrocarbon feed is made possible in this way.

Chemical looping reform methods comprising heating an oxygen carrier in the presence of a catalyst and plasma radicals to react the oxygen carrier with a fuel to provide a reduced oxygen carrier; and contacting the reduced oxygen carrier with water or carbon dioxide to produce hydrogen or carbon monoxide, respectively, and regenerate the oxygen carrier. The chemical looping reform methods are carried out at low temperatures such as from 150 C. to 1000 C., preferably from 150 C. to 500 C. Catalyst used in the chemical looping reform methods include a sintered rare earth metal oxide oxygen carrier and perovskite. Methods of preparing the catalyst are also provided.

A reactor system for carrying out steam reforming of a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons, including: a structured catalyst arranged for catalyzing steam reforming of a feed gas including hydrocarbons, the structured catalyst including a macroscopic structure of electrically conductive material, the macroscopic structure supporting a ceramic coating, wherein the ceramic coating supports a catalytically active material; a pressure shell housing the structured catalyst; heat insulation layer between the structured catalyst and the pressure shell; at least two conductors electrically connected to the macroscopic structure and to an electrical power supply placed outside the pressure shell, wherein the electrical power supply is dimensioned to heat at least part of the structured catalyst to a temperature of at least 500 C. by passing an electrical current through the macroscopic structure. Also, a process for steam reforming of a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons.