Hydrogen production process

Abstract

A hydrogen production process includes combining a first feedstream and a second feedstream to produce, in a pre-reforming reactor, a first product stream comprising CH 4 and H 2 O; wherein the first feedstream contains a mixture of H 2 and at least one selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons having two or more carbon atoms and alcohols having two or more carbon atoms, and the mixture has a hydrogen stoichiometric ratio (λ) of at least 0.1, and the second feedstream contains steam; feeding the first product stream into a reforming reactor; and reacting the first product stream in the reforming reactor to produce a second product stream containing CO and H 2 ; and a catalyst for use in the process.

1 . A hydrogen production process comprising
 combining a first feedstream and a second feedstream to produce, in a pre-reforming reactor, a first product stream comprising CH 4  and H 2 O, wherein
 the first feedstream comprises a mixture of H 2  and at least one selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons having two or more carbon atoms and alcohols having two or more carbon atoms, said mixture having a hydrogen stoichiometric ratio (λ) of at least 0.1; and 
 the second feedstream comprises steam; 
   feeding the first product stream into a reforming reactor; and   reacting the first product stream in the reforming reactor to produce a second product stream comprising CO and H 2 .   
     
     
         2 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 1 , wherein 0.2≦λ≦1.5. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 1 , wherein 0.25≦λ≦1. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 1 , wherein the first feedstream is produced in a desulphurizing process in which the H 2  is combined with the at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons having two or more carbon atoms and alcohols having two or more carbon atoms. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 1 , further comprising feeding into the reforming reactor with the first product stream an additional feedstream comprising one or more members selected from the group consisting of steam, air, non-air oxidants, mixtures of desulphurized gases selected from hydrocarbons, carbon oxides, and inert gases. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the pre-reforming reactor, reaction is conducted using a catalyst comprising an active metal dispersed on a support, where the active metal comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rh, Ru, Ni, Co, Pd, Ir and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 6 , wherein the support is at least one member selected from the group consisting of TiO 2 , ZrO 2 , alkaline-earth metal hexaaluminates, monoclinic zirconia and alumina. 
     
     
         8 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 6 , wherein the active metal is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ir, Pt and Pd; and the support comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of monoclinic zirconia and an alkaline-earth metal hexaaluminate. 
     
     
         9 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of steam to carbon atom contained in the first feedstream, S:C, is less than 5. 
     
     
         10 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 9 , wherein S:C is less than 4. 
     
     
         11 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 10 , wherein S:C is from 3 to 4. 
     
     
         12 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 7 , wherein the active metal is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ir, Pt and Pd; and the support comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of alumina and an alkaline-earth hexaaluminate; and the catalyst further comprises one or more rare earth oxide promoters. 
     
     
         13 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 12 , wherein the catalyst is a promoted catalyst having Ir as active metal on alumina, with the promoters being a combination of 14-20 wt % of CeO 2 , 1-5 wt % of La 2 O 3 , and 1-5 wt % of Y 2 O 3 . 
     
     
         14 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is in a form selected from the group consisting of powders, granulates, tablets, extrudates, and washcoats on ceramic or metallic monoliths or tubular structures. 
     
     
         15 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 1 , wherein the first feedstream is introduced into the pre-reforming reactor prior to the second feedstream being introduced. 
     
     
         16 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 1 , wherein the second feedstream is introduced into the pre-reforming reactor prior to the first feedstream being introduced. 
     
     
         17 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 1 , wherein the first feedstream and second feedstream are introduced into the pre-reforming reactor simultaneously. 
     
     
         18 . The hydrogen production process according to  claim 1 , wherein the first feedstream and second feedstream are combined prior to introduction into the pre-reforming reactor.