Title of Invention

MEMBRAN REACTOR AND PROCESS FOR GENERATION OF HIGH PURITY HYDROGEN GAS.

Abstract

1. Membrane reactor for the generation of high-purity hydrogen from a hydrocarbon stream and steam comprising a hydrogen-permeable diffusion membrane is concentrically and coaxially arranged around the reaction space and forms the reactor wall to separate the hydrogen gas from the residual gas; with the reactor being fitted with heating elements consisting of either an electric and/or a combustion heating system with the fuel being hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or hydrocarbons characterised in that one of the heating elements is a heating conductor located in the centre of the reactor.

Full Text

FORM 2 THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970) COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See Section 10, rule 13) MEMBRAN REACTOR AND PROCESS FOR GENERATION OF HIGH PURITY HYDROGEN GAS. The following specification particularly describes the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed : - ORIGINAL 0158/MUMNP/2003 GRANTED 30-3-2005 We claim: 1. Membrane reactor for the generation of high-purity hydrogen from a hydrocarbon stream and steam comprising a hydrogen-permeable diffusion membrane is concentrically and coaxially arranged around the reaction space and forms the reactor wall to separate the hydrogen gas from the residual gas; with the reactor being fitted with heating elements consisting of either an electric and/or a combustion heating system with the fuel being hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or hydrocarbons characterised in that one of the heating elements is a heating conductor located in the centre of the reactor. 2. Membrane reactor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reactor contains a catalyst for converting hydrocarbons into hydrogen and that this catalyst is preferably located inside or directly on the diffusion membrane. 3. Membrane reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the membrane material itself has a catalytic effect. 4. Membrane reactor as claimed in claims 1 to 2, wherein the membrane is fitted with heating elements. 5. Membrane reactor as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein the heating conductor is of tubular shape which allows the post-combustion of the residual gas. 6. Membrane reactor as claimed in claims 1 to 5, wherein the catalyst is a hydrogen-permeable membrane containing a Pd/Ag alloy. 7. Membrane reactor as claimed in claims 1 to 6, wherein the membrane is either electroconductive or covered with an electroconductive coating. 8. Process for the generation of high-purity hydrogen gas from a hydrocarbon stream and steam, using the membrane reactor as claimed in claim 1 comprising the following steps: 1. Performing a steam-reforming reaction, 2. Separating the generated hydrogen by means of a diffusion membrane, 3. Performing a pre-treatment step in order to hydrogenate the hydrocarbon stream consisting of a hydrocarbon mixture, while at the same time generating n-paraffins, with the hydrocarbon mixture preferably containing such a level of hydrogenatable hydrocarbons that the heat of hydrogenation generated in the pre-treatment step is sufficient to enable the pre-treatment step to proceed and to make the hydrocarbon stream leaving the pre-treatment step reach the desired target temperature. 9. Process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the steam-reforming reaction and the separation of the hydrogen are carried out in a membrane reactor. 10. Process as claimed in claim 10, comprising the following steps: a) Heating the diffusion membrane of the reactor to temperatures of between 500 and 1000°C. b) Feeding the reactant stream into the reactor and converting it on the diffusion membrane, which is preferably fitted with a catalyst, at temperatures of between 500 and 1000° C. c) Removing the generated hydrogen from the reactor through the diffusion membrane. d) Removing the residual gas stream through the reactor 11. Process as claimed in claims 9, wherein the n-paraffins generated in the pre-treatment step are mainly methane, ethane, propane and butane 12. Process as claimed in claims 9, wherein the process water required for the steam-reforming process is vaporized in the pre-treatment step. 13. Process as claimed in claims 9, wherein the generated heat of hydrogenation is sufficient to heat the process steam for the steam-reforming step up to the entrance temperature for the membrane reactor. 16. Process as claimed in claims 9, wherein a surplus of hydrogen is used in the pre-treatment step to ensure sufficient saturation of the aromatic compounds and cracking products. 17. Process as claimed in claims 9, wherein the diffusion membrane is only hydrogen-permeable. 18. Process as claimed in claims 9, wherein the residual gas stream in the steam-reforming reactor is subjected to post-combustion. 19. Process as claimed in claims 9, wherein the carbon dioxide contained in the retentate is removed especially by means of Hquidisation and the remaining residual gas stream is preferably subjected to post-combustion. 20. Process as claimed in claims 9, wherein the generated hydrogen is stored in a tank during reformer shutdown operations and preferably fed back to the reactor/fuel cell during start-up operations or at times of peak demand. Dated this 31st day of January, 2003. HIRAL CHANDRAKANT JOSHI AGNET FOR DEUTSCHE BP AG

Documents:

158-mumnp-2003-cancelled page(30-03-2005).pdf

158-mumnp-2003-claim(granted)-(30-03-2005).pdf

158-mumnp-2003-claims(granted)-(30-03-2005).doc

158-mumnp-2003-correspondence(05-10-2007).pdf

158-mumnp-2003-correspondence(ipo)-(31-03-2005).pdf

158-mumnp-2003-drawing(30-03-2005).pdf

158-mumnp-2003-form 1(18-03-2005).pdf

158-mumnp-2003-form 1(30-03-2005).pdf

158-mumnp-2003-form 19(17-02-2004).pdf

158-mumnp-2003-form 2(granted)-(30-03-2005).doc

158-mumnp-2003-form 2(granted)-(30-03-2005).pdf

158-mumnp-2003-form 3(31-01-2003).pdf

158-mumnp-2003-form 5(31-01-2003).pdf

158-mumnp-2003-power of attorney(03-04-2003).pdf

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