| 摘要 |
<p>878,579. Producing town gas from natural gas. CONCH INTERNATIONAL METHANE Ltd. June 29, 1959, No. 22306/59. Drawings to Specification. Class 55 (2). The calorific value of a natural gas containing methane and heavier hydrocarbons is reduced by a process comprising the steps of separating at least a portion of the heavier hydrocarbons from the natural gas, converting the separated heavier hydrocarbons by partial combustion with air into a gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide and blending the thus produced gas with the natural gas from which the heavier hydrocarbons were separated. The gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be reacted with steam in the presence of a catalyst and the resulting gas with or without removal of carbon dioxide may be used to blend with the natural gas from which the heavier hydrocarbons were separated. The air and heavier hydrocarbons may be preheated to about 1,000‹ F. before partial combustion which is effected at a temperature of about 2,500‹ F. The air may be dried (see Group XIII) by washing with glycol before it is preheated. The natural gas may be in liquefied form and the separation of the heavier hydrocarbons may be effected by vaporizing the liquefied natural gas in a fractionating column (see Group XXVIII).</p> |
