PROCESS FOR PRODUCING METHANE-RICH GASES FROM HYDROCARBONS

摘要

Methane-rich gases are produced from naphtha or kerosene-type feedstocks having an upper boiling point of 250 DEG C. The hydrocarbons are reacted with water vapor at elevated temperatures and pressures of from 15 to 100 atmospheres in the presence of a nickel-based catalyst in two reaction zones. In the first zone, 40-50 percent of preheated vaporized hydrocarbon is mixed and reacted with 80-90 percent of the water vapor required for the overall reaction. The product gas from the first reaction zone is cooled and mixed with the remaining vaporized hydrocarbons and the remaining water vapor and is then fed to the second reaction zone. The reaction conditions in both zones are such that the temperature of the catalyst in both zones is in the range 300 DEG -500 DEG C. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a catalyst which is 50 to 60 weight percent nickel on a magnesium spinel support.