Apparatus for steam-methane reforming

Abstract

Apparatuses for use in plants for processing methane, the apparatuses comprising a plurality of reaction modules each including a plurality of Fischer-Tropsch reactors operable to convert a gaseous mixture including carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a liquid hydrocarbon. Each module may be disconnected and taken away for servicing while allowing the plant to continue to operate. In some of the apparatuses, each Fischer-Tropsch reactor comprises a plurality of metal sheets arranged as a stack to define first and second flow channels for flow of respective fluids, the channels being arranged alternately to ensure good thermal contact between the fluids in the channels.

1 . An apparatus for use in a plant for processing methane, the apparatus comprising a plurality of reaction modules each including a plurality of Fischer-Tropsch reactors operable to convert a gaseous mixture including carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a liquid hydrocarbon, wherein each module may be disconnected and taken away for servicing, whilst allowing the plant to continue to operate. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each Fischer-Tropsch reactor comprises a plurality of metal sheets arranged as a stack to define first and second flow channels for flow of respective fluids, the channels being arranged alternately to ensure good thermal contact between the fluids in the channels. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein both the first flow channels and the second flow channels are less than 5 mm deep in a direction normal to the center plane of the sheets 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of Fisher-Tropsch reactors includes a removable catalyst. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of Fisher-Tropsch reactors includes a catalyst selected from the group comprising iron, cobalt and fused magnetite. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the catalyst is supported on γ-alumina. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the γ-alumina has a surface area of 140-230 m2/g. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of Fisher-Tropsch reactors includes a catalyst comprising about 35% by weight of cobalt. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the catalyst is provided with a promoter selected from the group comprising ruthenium, platinum, gadolinium and rhenium. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reaction module is small enough to be transported in an ISO structural frame. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of Fisher-Tropsch reactors are arranged such that the gaseous mixture may flow in parallel through the plurality of Fisher-Tropsch reactors.