PROGRESSIVELY COOLED SHIFT REACTOR SYSTEM

摘要

The simultaneous reduction in carbon monoxide content and temperature of a high temperature synthesis gas occurs by passing the synthesis gas through a series of interchanging heat exchangers and shift catalyst beds whereby there are a minimum of 2 high temperature shift beds and one low temperature shift bed. The size of each of the interspaced heat exchangers units is selected to achieve a target range of sequential reactor bed operating temperatures, using a common series circuited cooling gas. Additionally, in the syngas processing system there is a singular temperature control provided whereby the flow rate of one of the cooling fluids is altered to achieve a target temperature in the last low temperature shift reactor bed, and the sizing and placement of the interspersed heat exchanger unit is optimized to ensure that all catalyst beds stay within their required temperature ranges during the entire range of high temperature synthesis gas flow rate turndown. The resulting reactor system is integrated between a high temperature synthesis gas generation source and another process that requires a synthesis gas with reduced carbon monoxide concentration, reduced temperature, and increased hydrogen concentration, such as, for instance, a hydrogen separation unit.