Hydrogen production from natural gas processing using electron beam irradiation

Abstract

A process of recovering hydrogen from the conversation of a gas stream that is primarily a mixture of light alkanes into a high-octane liquid stream that includes transporting the gas stream to a reactor at a gas processing facility; and introducing the gas stream into a reactor whereupon components of the gas stream are exposed to electron beam radiation within the reactor to increase the molecular weight of hydrocarbons in the gas stream, thereby producing an upgraded radiolysis fluid stream and recovering a first portion of hydrogen;

1 . A process of recovering hydrogen from the conversation of a gas stream that is primarily a mixture of light alkanes into a high-octane liquid stream, comprising:
 transporting the gas stream to a reactor at a gas processing facility;   introducing the gas stream into a reactor whereupon components of the gas stream are exposed to electron beam radiation within the reactor to increase the molecular weight of hydrocarbons in the gas stream, thereby producing an upgraded radiolysis fluid stream and recovering a first portion of hydrogen;   transporting the radiolysis fluid stream into a separator, thereby producing a first gaseous stream comprising primarily light alkanes and hydrogen, and a second liquid stream comprising primarily heavy alkanes;   re-circulating the first stream back into an inlet of the reactor for additional irradiation and upgrading; and   transporting the second liquid stream as condensate to a distillation column; and   fractionating the condensate into to recover hydrogen.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the gas stream is a natural gas stream, an artificial gaseous alkane mixture, or gaseous industrial waste. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising: monitoring the hydrogen (H2) content in the first gaseous stream released from the separator; and when the hydrogen content reaches 10% by volume in the first gaseous stream, sending non-condensed gases of the first gaseous stream to a hydrogen separator for removal of hydrogen gases before the first gaseous stream is re-circulated back into the reactor for additional irradiation and upgrading. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , further comprising: (i) removing any H2O from the natural gas stream before introducing the natural gas stream into the reactor, (ii) removing any CO2 from the natural gas stream before introducing the natural gas stream into the reactor, (ii) removing any H2S from the natural gas stream before introducing the natural gas stream into the reactor, or (iii) combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , further comprising: pressuring the natural gas stream to at least 15 psi, and heating the natural gas stream to at least 100.degree. F. before introducing the natural gas stream into the reactor. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein pressuring and heating the natural gas production stream is done through the use of at least one blower. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the separate comprises one or more gas-liquid centrifugal separators in series. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein: monitoring the hydrogen (H2) content is done by using an H2 sensor proximate a discharge line from the reactor; and the hydrogen separator is removed from the gas mixture by either a membrane separator or a pressure swing absorption unit. 
     
     
         10 . The process of claim  9 , wherein: excess hydrogen is removed from the non-condensed gases by a pressure swing absorption unit; and the pressure swing absorption unit is operated at 100 psi and contains (i) activated carbon, (ii) zeolite, or (iii) a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure swing absorption unit is maintained at 120.degree. F. or higher. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising: before re-circulating, removing hydrogen gas from the first gaseous stream using a membrane separator. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the reactor is a steel flow-type reactor connected hermetically to an accelerator beam window. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein: the gas production stream is moved through an irradiation area within the reactor at a rate of 800 m.sup.3/hour; and a rate of energy consumption for an absorbed dose rate is 2.0 kW/m.sup.3. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising: blending at least a portion of the liquid stream as a condensate product into a lower-octane fuel to generate a higher octane transportation fuel.