Production of carbon monoxide and hydrogen for petrochemical use. Typical consumers are oxo-alcohol synthesis units and methanol synthesis units.
Products: Synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The synthesis gas can be used directly for chemical production or alternatively can be further processed to yield high-purity carbon monoxide and high-purity hydrogen.
The feed is preheated (1) and then desulfurized in a conventional hydrotreating-zinc oxide system (2). Steam is added to the desulfurized feed. Carbon dioxide recycle (optional) is also added. The feed mixture is sent to the autothermal reformer (3) a refractory-lined vessel containing catalyst and a burner. The feed mixture is burned with oxygen in the burner located near the top of the reformer vessel. Partial oxidation reactions occur in a combustion zone just below the burner. The mixture then passes through a catalyst bed where reforming reactions occur. The gas exits at about 1,700°F to 1,900°F, depending on the final product specifications.
The exit gas is cooled and passed through a carbon dioxide removal unit (4). The resulting process gas consists primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen and is available as product synthesis gas. This synthesis gas can be used to make a variety of chemicals, including methanol and oxo alcohols. Alternatively, the gas can be further processed (typically by cryogenic separation) to yield high-purity carbon monoxide and high-purity hydrogen.
Carbon dioxide can be recycled to adjust the H2/CO product ratio. For natural gas feedstocks, the H2/CO product ratio ranges from about 2.7 (for no CO2 recycle) to 1.6 (for full CO2 recycle).
Autothermal reforming technology is similar to secondary reforming for ammonia production, except that oxygen is used as feedstock instead of air. Oxygen is required since nitrogen would dilute the H2/CO product gas purity.
Economics: The economics can be favorable for autothermal reforming when oxygen is available at relatively low cost. For natural gas feedstocks, the optimum H2/CO product ratio is about 1.6 to 2.7.
Supplier: CB&I Howe Baker
