IMPROVED PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN RICH GASEOUS MIXTURE

摘要

Petroleum coke-based feed materials are catalytically gasified by steam to hydrogen rich gaseous mixtures at low pressure and moderate temperature, saving thereby investment and operational costs. Both the pressure of 3-5 bar and the temperature of 750°C applied according to the invention were found to be optimum values, below or above which reaction rates were decreased. Under the reaction conditions of the invention, in addition to the steam gasification gf the carbon content to carbon monoxide and hydrogen, water gas shift reaction with excess water takes place simultaneously, producing an additional amount of hydrogen. Based on the composition of product gases, at about 98% carbon conversion the conversion of the primary product carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and hydrogen is about 90%. As an overall result, 1 mol carbon content of the feed is converted to about 1,8 mol hydrogen.