GB936699A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for the production of combustible gas - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0936699/III/1> An apparatus for producing combustible gas by the catalytic reforming of fluid hydrocarbons in a cyclic process comprises a vessel 1 containing catalyst 2 between free end spaces 3, 4, and regenerator vessels 7, 11 containing heat storage refractory material 8, 12 between free end spaces 9, 10 and 13, 14 respectively. The apparatus is adapted to carry out the "uniflow" process (i.e. the direction of gas flow is the same in the plant-heating and gas-making periods) and the regenerative process in which the direction of gas flow is opposite in alternate periods. In the uniform process, fuel and air are delivered to a burner 51, the combustion gases passing right to left through the apparatus to a stack 19 during the heating period, while steam and liquid or gaseous HC fuel are delivered at 62, 53 respectively during the make period. Air may be delivered at 58 via line 36 during either period, for cooling or for making a nitrogen-containing gas, the gas passing to a washbox 25. In the regenerative process, different connections are employed. In the heating period, air enters via line 38, is heated at 12 and burns deposited carbon at 2 to heat the catalyst, fuel and air being burnt, if desired, at 44 and 58. During the make period, steam enters the vessel 7 at 60, is preheated at 8, mixed with HC oil entering at 48 and the mixture passed through the catalyst 2 to produce combustible gas which heats the material 12 on its way to the washbox 25. In the regenerative process, air may be introduced through line 65 in either period for cooling or for making a nitrogen-containing gas. In both processes, purge periods follow each heating and make period. A substantially similar apparatus is described, see Fig. 2 (not shown) in which two washboxes are employed, one at each end of the apparatus.