Steam reforming reactor with internal axial heating

Abstract

A steam reforming reactor may comprise a shell, an inner tube disposed within the shell such that an annular portion is formed between the shell and the inner tube, a fluid inlet communicating with the annular portion, a fluid outlet communicating with the annular portion, a catalytic reactor system disposed within the annular portion, and at least one internal heating device disposed within the inner tube, wherein the catalytic reactor system may be configured to allow fluid to flow through the annular portion, and the at least one internal heating device may be configured to heat the fluid flowing through the annular portion.

Claims

1. Shell and, An inner tube is disposed within the shell such that an annular portion is formed between it and the shell, A fluid inlet communicating with the aforementioned annular portion, A fluid outlet communicating with the aforementioned annular portion, A catalytic reactor system arranged within the annular portion, At least one internal heating device disposed within the inner tube, Equipped with The catalytic reactor system is configured to allow fluid to flow through the annular portion, The at least one internal heating device is configured to heat the fluid flowing through the annular portion. A steam reforming apparatus characterized by the following features.

2. The at least one internal heating device is electrically driven. The steam reforming apparatus according to feature 1.

3. At least a portion of the shell is cylindrical. The steam reforming apparatus according to feature 1.

4. The inner tube is arranged coaxially within the shell. The steam reforming apparatus according to feature 3.

5. The at least one internal heating device is arranged coaxially within the inner tube. The steam reforming apparatus according to feature 4.

6. The at least one internal heating device is arranged together with the inner tube such that the at least one internal heating device is in contact with the inner tube. The steam reforming apparatus according to feature 1.

7. The at least one internal heating device is separated from the inner tube by a central volume. The steam reforming apparatus according to feature 1.

8. Conductive material disposed within the central volume The steam reforming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising the above.

9. The at least one internal heating device is configured to release a variable amount of heat along the length of the inner tube. The steam reforming apparatus according to feature 1.

10. Multiple reaction tubes Equipped with, Each reaction tube, Shell and, An inner tube is disposed within the shell such that an annular portion is formed between it and the shell, A fluid inlet communicating with the aforementioned annular portion, A fluid outlet communicating with the aforementioned annular portion, A catalytic reactor system arranged within the annular portion, At least one internal heating device disposed within the inner tube, It has, The catalytic reactor system is configured to allow fluid to flow through the annular portion, The at least one internal heating device is configured to heat the fluid flowing through the annular portion. A system characterized by the following features.

11. The plurality of reaction tubes are arranged in at least one row. The system according to feature 10.

12. The aforementioned at least one row includes multiple rows arranged parallel to each other. The system according to feature 11.

13. external heating device Furthermore, The external heating device is configured to complement the heating provided by the at least one internal heating device for each reaction tube. The system according to feature 10.

14. The external heating device burns a portion of the product flow that has passed through at least one of the plurality of reaction tubes. The system according to claim 13, characterized in that way.

15. The external heating device is electrically driven. The system according to claim 13, characterized in that way.

16. The at least one internal heating device is further configured to release a variable amount of heat along the length of each inner tube. The system according to feature 10.

17. The at least one internal heating device is configured to independently control a variable amount of heat released to each inner tube of each reaction tube. The system described in claim 16.

18. A steam reforming method, A process of supplying a fluid supply stream to a reactor. Equipped with, The reaction apparatus is Shell and, An inner tube is disposed within the shell such that an annular portion is formed between it and the shell, A catalytic reactor system arranged within the annular portion, At least one internal heating device disposed within the inner tube, It has, The catalytic reactor system is configured to allow fluid to flow through the annular portion, This method further, The steps include: passing the fluid supply stream through the catalytic reactor system; The steps include heating the fluid supply stream via at least one internal heating device as the fluid supply stream passes through the catalytic reactor system, A step of reacting the fluid supply stream to form a product stream, A step of extracting the first target compound from the product stream, A step of recirculating at least a portion of the product stream back to the reactor, A method characterized by comprising:

19. The step of recirculating at least a portion of the product stream includes the step of recirculating at least a portion of the second target compound extracted from the product stream. The method according to the present invention, characterized by the present invention.

20. The step of providing a fluid supply stream includes the step of providing a mixture of hydrocarbons and vapors. The method according to the present invention, characterized by the present invention.

21. Steps to separate the carbon-rich stream from the aforementioned product stream. The method according to 18, further comprising the following:

22. The step of recirculating at least a portion of the product stream includes the step of recirculating the separated carbon-rich stream to the reactor. The method according to feature 21.

23. The step of extracting the first target compound includes the step of extracting carbon dioxide from the product stream. The method according to the present invention, characterized by the present invention.

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