The invention relates to a method and to a plant for chemical looping oxidation-reduction combustion (CLC) of a gaseous hydrocarbon feed, for example natural gas essentially containing methane. According to the invention, catalytic reforming of the feed is performed within the reduction zone where combustion of the feed is conducted on contact with an oxidation-reduction active mass in form of particles. The reforming catalyst comes in form of untransported fluidized particles within the reduction zone. The catalyst thus confined in the reduction zone does not circulate in the CLC loop.

The invention relates to a method and to a plant for chemical looping oxidation-reduction combustion (CLC) of a gaseous hydrocarbon feed, for example natural gas essentially containing methane. According to the invention, catalytic steam reforming of the feed is performed between two successive feed combustion steps on contact with an oxidation-reduction active mass in form of particles. The reforming catalyst is arranged in a fixed bed in an intermediate reforming zone (130) between the two reduction zones (120, 140) where the two combustion steps are conducted.

FIG. 2 to be published.

The invention relates to a method and to a plant for chemical looping oxidation-reduction combustion (CLC) of a gaseous hydrocarbon feed, for example natural gas essentially containing methane. According to the invention, catalytic steam reforming of the feed is performed between two successive feed combustion steps on contact with an oxidation-reduction active mass in form of particles. The reforming catalyst is arranged in a fixed bed in an intermediate reforming zone (130) between the two reduction zones (120, 140) where the two combustion steps are conducted.

FIG. 2 to be published.

A calcium looping combustion process for sour gas combustion comprising a system that includes several reaction zones. The system is configured to provide oxygen transfer media production, generation of a syngas product stream, and in-situ H.sub.2S removal from the sour gas. The system is also configured such that the calcium-based transfer media and the calcium-based oxygen carrier are reproduced via reactions in another reaction zone, and recirculated in the system.

A calcium looping combustion process for sour gas combustion comprising a system that includes several reaction zones. The system is configured to provide oxygen transfer media production, generation of a syngas product stream, and in-situ H.sub.2S removal from the sour gas. The system is also configured such that the calcium-based transfer media and the calcium-based oxygen carrier are reproduced via reactions in another reaction zone, and recirculated in the system.

An improved chemical looping combustion (CLC) process and system includes a hopper containing oxygen carrier particles, e.g., metal oxides, that are gravity fed at a controlled rate of flow from the hopper into (a) a generally vertical downflow reactor where they are mixed with all of the hydrocarbon fuel feed to the system and (b) into one or more standpipes that are in communication with a plurality of staged fluidized reactor beds, the amount of the oxygen carrier particles introduced into the system being stoichiometrically predetermined to produce a syngas mixture of H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2; or to complete combustion of the fuel to CO.sub.2 and water vapor, thereby permitting capture of a majority of the CO.sub.2 produced in an essentially pure form.

An improved chemical looping combustion (CLC) process and system includes a hopper containing oxygen carrier particles, e.g., metal oxides, that are gravity fed at a controlled rate of flow from the hopper into (a) a generally vertical downflow reactor where they are mixed with all of the hydrocarbon fuel feed to the system and (b) into one or more standpipes that are in communication with a plurality of staged fluidized reactor beds, the amount of the oxygen carrier particles introduced into the system being stoichiometrically predetermined to produce a syngas mixture of H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2; or to complete combustion of the fuel to CO.sub.2 and water vapor, thereby permitting capture of a majority of the CO.sub.2 produced in an essentially pure form.

A method is presented of thermal decomposition to crack ethane and/or higher alkane hydrocarbon feed or the mixture of any of these hydrocarbons to break down into component elements or simpler constituents using heat from a hot metal agent from a chemical looping combustion process.

The invention relates to an oxygen carrier solid, its preparation and its use in a method of combustion of a hydrocarbon feedstock by active mass chemical-looping oxidation-reduction, i.e. chemical-looping combustion (CLC). The solid, which is in the form of particles, comprises an oxidation-reduction active mass composed of metal oxide(s) dispersed in a ceramic matrix comprising at least one oxide with a melting point higher than 1500° C., such as alumina, and has, initially, a specific macroporous texture. The oxygen carrier solid is prepared from an aqueous suspension containing precursor oxide grains for the ceramic matrix that have a specific size, by a spray-drying technique.

The invention relates to an oxygen carrier solid, its preparation and its use in a method of combustion of a hydrocarbon feedstock by active mass chemical-looping oxidation-reduction, i.e. chemical-looping combustion (CLC). The solid, which is in the form of particles, comprises an oxidation-reduction active mass composed of metal oxide(s) dispersed in a ceramic matrix comprising at least one oxide with a melting point higher than 1500° C., such as alumina, and has, initially, a specific macroporous texture. The oxygen carrier solid is prepared from an aqueous suspension containing precursor oxide grains for the ceramic matrix that have a specific size, by a spray-drying technique.