Electrical heating to assist exothermic oxidation and endothermic pyrolysis reactions at high temperatures in a continuous flow hydrocarbon reforming reactor

摘要

The exothermic reaction is assisted by an electrical heater, raising the temperature in one zone of the reactor to up to 1250 deg C. The high temperature zone of the reactor contains a solid body (8) which is hot enough to ensure both a quick reaction and favorable thermodynamic conditions for the reactions to be achieved in a relatively small reformer. The exothermic reaction is assisted by an electrical heater, raising the temperature in one zone of the reactor to up to 1250 deg C. The high temperature zone of the reactor contains a solid body (8) which is hot enough to ensure both a quick reaction and favorable thermodynamic conditions for the reactions to be achieved in a relatively small reformer. The solid body is made of granular and/or porous refractory material, such as mineral or synthetic grains, metal wires or rods, or a metal or ceramic honeycomb. The material acts as a contact surface for the pyrolysis and/or partial oxidation of the hydrocarbon. The reactor contains an internal heat exchanger to increase the temperature in the reaction zone and of the body. The intrinsic inefficiency of the exchanger is corrected by adding heat which can be rapidly controlled by a local supply of electrical energy using the Joule effect as the electrical current passes across a resistance placed in the zone and the body. The heat exchanger also cools the flow leaving the body in the tube (2) and the surface of the exchanger is augmented by a structure (12) which may be in the form of conducting fins. The energy exchange is also increased by the turbulence around entering and leaving fluids. Thermal insulation (13) is placed around the reactor to conserve heat so the reactor can operate in quasi adiabatic conditions. The reactor is tubular, approximately 0.25 m diameter and 3 m high, and able to resist pressures of up to 4MPa.