METHANE CONVERSION PROCESS Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: petrochemical processes.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods of converting methane and its homologues to produced hydrogen widely used in production of ammonia from natural gas. Conversion of methane is accomplished through interaction of methane with water steam, carbon dioxide, and air oxygen on nickel-containing catalyst constituted by mixture of fresh and exhausted catalysts preliminarily freed of dust, fines (by sieving), deformed granules, and granules with white deposits. Process is carried out at volume gas flow rate 4000-4500 h^-1, temperature 1002-1245^оС, pressure (0.7-0.9)·10⁵ Pa, and inlet methane concentration 9-11% to achieve outlet methane concentration 0.35% and/or increase in resistance in converter above 10⁵ Pa. Stopped converter is recharged with catalyst and then restarted.

EFFECT: reduced consumption of catalyst and prolonged its lifetime without deterioration of process parameters.

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