PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SYNTHESIS GAS BY CATALYTIC STEAM REFORMING OF HYDROCARBON CONTAINING FEED FUEL IN PARALLEL IN AUTOTHERMAL STEAM REFORMER AND IN AT LEAST ONE STEAM REFORMER IN SERIES

摘要

PURPOSE: To provide a process for producing synthesis gas capable of being operated at low steam-to-carbon ratio without carbon formation and reducing the oxygen consumption by catalytic steam reforming of a hydrocarbon containing feed fuel in parallel in an autothermal steam reformer and in at least one steam reformer in series. CONSTITUTION: The process is characterized in that heat for a steam reforming reactions in at least one reformer is provided by indirect heat exchange with combined effluents from at least one steam reformer with an autothermal steam reformer and carbon monoxide containing gas is added to a feed fuel prior to the steam reforming in the autothermal steam reformer and/or prior to the steam reforming in at least one steam reformer. The carbon monoxide containing gas has a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon of less than 4.5 and is added in an amount of resulting in a product stream having a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide of between about 1.8 and 2.3.