Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feed and steam, comprising: a step for producing a synthesis gas in a unit for steam reforming the hydrocarbon feed in the presence of steam, with a fuel providing the heat necessary for the reaction; a step for steam converting synthesis gas obtained in the preceding step, producing a stream of hydrogen containing methane and carbon dioxide; a step for capturing carbon dioxide present in the stream obtained from the steam conversion step in order to separate the carbon dioxide from the stream of hydrogen; a step for capturing and recycling the methane and other impurities (CO, CO2) present in the stream of hydrogen to the steam reforming step.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock and water vapor comprising: A stage for the production of a synthetic gas in a vapor reforming unit of the hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of water vapor, with a fuel that provides the heat that is necessary to the reaction, A stage for conversion to vapor of the synthetic gas that is obtained in the preceding stage producing a hydrogen stream that contains methane and carbon dioxide, A stage for recovering carbon dioxide that is present in the stream that is obtained in the stage for conversion to vapor, making it possible to separate the carbon dioxide from the hydrogen stream, A stage for recovery and recycling to the vapor reforming stage of impurities that are present in the hydrogen stream, comprising a decompression phase.

Abstract: The present invention describes a steam reforming furnace for the production of hydrogen, which employs a set of porous burners interposed between the tubes to be heated, improving compactness of the furnace.

Abstract: The present invention describes a vertical cylindrical exchanger-reactor for carrying out endothermic reactions, comprising a shell enclosing a plurality of tubes inside which the reactive fluid moves, said tubes being of the bayonet type, and the heat transfer fluid, in this case hot gases, being channeled inside chimneys surrounding said bayonet tubes. The bayonet tubes and the chimneys are suspended from the upper dome of the reactor. This reactor may operate with a pressure difference between the tube side and the shell of up to 100 bars. The hot gases are admitted into the reactor at temperatures of up to 1300° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock and water vapor comprising a stage in which a portion of the hydrocarbon feedstock is sent to a vapor-reforming unit and another portion of the hydrocarbon feedstock is sent directly to an autothermal reformer in a mixture with the effluent that is obtained from a vapor-reforming unit, a vapor-reforming stage of the hydrocarbon feedstock in a vapor-reforming unit, a stage for autothermal reforming of the stream that is obtained in the preceding stage as well as the hydrocarbon feedstock that is sent directly into an autothermal reformer, a vapor conversion stage of the synthesis gas that is obtained in the preceding stage, and a stage for recovering carbon dioxide that is present in the stream that is obtained in the vapor conversion stage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous catalyst regeneration device comprising at least one burning zone formed by at least one annular combustion zone (3), centered along a longitudinal axis (A), in which the catalyst circulates, an inlet conduit of the catalyst (4) and an outlet conduit of the catalyst (4?), an external zone (11) for circulation of a combustive gas disposed around the annular combustion zone (3) and an internal circulation zone (15) disposed inside the annular combustion zone (3), wherein the burning zone is divided into sectors (14) by hermetic longitudinal plates (10) disposed radially relative to the longitudinal axis (A) of the regenerator. The invention also relates to the process using this device.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for the production of hydrogen by steam reforming an oil cut using a hot vector gas, in which the steam produced by the process is used in its entirety in said process, a first portion of the steam being introduced as a mixture with the feed, and the second portion supplying the steam turbine driving the compressor for pressurizing the hot vector gas.

Abstract: The present invention describes a combustion zone for a regenerative catalytic unit for the continuous regeneration of catalyst, said combustion zone having an annular shape and being divided into at least two combustion stages, each stage being divided into a number N of radial sectors, which are substantially equal, the catalyst flowing under gravity from one sector of the first combustion stage to the sector located in vertical alignment with the second combustion stage by means of drop legs, and the movement of the combustion gas being such that the combustion gas passes in succession through all of the sectors of the first combustion stage in any order, then all of the sectors of the second stage in any order.

Abstract: The invention concerns an exchanger-reactor (1) comprising: a vessel (2); means for distributing a feed through a fixed bed catalytic zone (10); means (6) for collecting effluent from the catalytic zone (10); means for heating the catalytic zone (10); in which said collection means (6) comprise conduits passing right through the catalytic zone (10), said conduits being distributed in the catalytic zone and interposed between the heating means, and in which the heating means of the catalytic zone are contained in sheaths (8) which are partially immersed in the catalytic zone (10), the sheaths (8) being open at one of their ends and closed at the other, the open end being fixed to an upper tube plate (21) defining the collection chamber (19) which is located above the catalytic zone (10), said heating means comprising at least one combustion zone (13) located close to the catalytic zone, means for supplying said combustion zone (13) with an oxidizing gas mixture (15) and with a gaseous fuel (17), and means

Abstract: The method allows liquefaction of a dry natural gas comprising water and heavy hydrocarbons containing more than five carbon atoms. The following stages are carried out: a) passing the dry natural gas through a water-adsorbent solid so as to obtain a water-depleted natural gas and a water-laden adsorbent solid, b) passing the water-depleted natural gas through a solid adsorbing heavy hydrocarbons comprising at least five carbon atoms so as to obtain a heavy hydrocarbon-depleted natural gas and a heavy hydrocarbon-laden adsorbent solid, c) liquefying the heavy hydrocarbon-depleted natural gas at a pressure above 40 bar abs so as to obtain a liquid natural gas under pressure, d) expanding the liquid natural gas under pressure obtained in stage c) to atmospheric pressure so as to obtain a liquid natural gas and a gas fraction.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for the production of hydrogen by steam reforming an oil cut using a hot vector gas, in which the steam produced by the process is used in its entirety in said process, a first portion of the steam being introduced as a mixture with the feed, and the second portion supplying the steam turbine driving the compressor for pressurizing the hot vector gas.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock and water vapor comprising: A stage for the production of a synthetic gas in a vapor reforming unit of the hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of water vapor, with a fuel that provides the heat that is necessary to the reaction, A stage for conversion to vapor of the synthetic gas that is obtained in the preceding stage producing a hydrogen stream that contains methane and carbon dioxide, A stage for recovering carbon dioxide that is present in the stream that is obtained in the stage for conversion to vapor, making it possible to separate the carbon dioxide from the hydrogen stream, A stage for recovery and recycling to the vapor reforming stage of impurities that are present in the hydrogen stream, comprising a decompression phase.

Abstract: The present invention describes a vertical cylindrical exchanger-reactor for carrying out endothermic reactions, comprising a shell enclosing a plurality of tubes inside which the reactive fluid moves, said tubes being of the bayonet type, and the heat transfer fluid, in this case hot gases, being channelled inside chimneys surrounding said bayonet tubes. The bayonet tubes and the chimneys are suspended from the upper dome of the reactor. This reactor may operate with a pressure difference between the tube side and the shell of up to 100 bars. The hot gases are admitted into the reactor at temperatures of up to 1300° C.

Abstract: The liquefaction method provides fractionation of the natural gas with ethane recycle in order to enhance propane recovery and to increase the critical pressure of the gas to be liquefied. The natural gas is partly liquefied by cooling in E1, then separated in fractionating column 2 into a methane-rich stream and a stream rich in hydrocarbons heavier than methane. The methane-rich stream is partly liquefied in 3, then the condensates separated in drum 4 are recycled to the top of column 2 through line 7. The gas fraction from drum 4 is liquefied in exchanger E2 to produce the liquefied natural gas. The stream rich in hydrocarbons heavier than methane is separated in the deethanizer into an ethane-enriched fraction and heavier hydrocarbons. According to the invention, the ethane-enriched fraction is at least partly liquefied, then part of the liquefied ethane is recycled to separating drum 4 or reflux line 7.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous catalyst regeneration device comprising at least one burning zone formed by at least one annular combustion zone (3), centred along a longitudinal axis (A), in which the catalyst circulates, an inlet conduit of the catalyst (4) and an outlet conduit of the catalyst (4?), an external zone (11) for circulation of a combustive gas disposed around the annular combustion zone (3) and an internal circulation zone (15) disposed inside the annular combustion zone (3), wherein the burning zone is divided into sectors (14) by hermetic longitudinal plates (10) disposed radially relative to the longitudinal axis (A) of the regenerator. The invention also relates to the process using this device.

Abstract: Process for catalytic conversion in the presence of hydrogen with regeneration of the catalyst that comprises a stage for reduction of said catalyst by the hydrogen that is obtained from the catalytic conversion stage, whereby this hydrogen is purified in advance of impurities that it contains by running it over adsorbent masses, whereby said adsorbent masses are regenerated by an increase in temperature that is provided by the effluent from the reduction stage of the catalyst. Application to the processes for regenerative reforming or dehydrogenation of paraffins and naphthenes and most generally to any moving-bed process that operates in the presence of hydrogen.

Abstract: The method provides liquefaction of a natural gas by carrying out the following stages: cooling the natural gas, feeding the cooled natural gas into a fractionating column so as to separate a methane-rich gas phase and a liquid phase rich in compounds heavier than ethane, and liquefying the methane-rich stream so as to obtain the liquid natural gas. According to the invention, the operating conditions in the fractionating column are so selected that said liquid phase comprises a molar proportion of methane ranging between 10% and 150% of the molar proportion of ethane.

Abstract: The invention concerns a reactor for carrying out an endothermic gas phase reaction having a cylindrical shape along a vertical axis and comprising at least four annular zones, centred on the vertical axis and in succession from the edge towards the centre of the reactor, namely a first zone 201 termed the supply zone, a second zone 202 termed the catalytic zone, a third zone 203 termed the collection zone and a fourth zone 204 termed the exchange zone. The reactor also comprises vertical hermetic panels 65 located along the radii of the cylindrical reactor which divide the reactor into sectors, said sectors each comprising at least one exchange section 61 and at least one catalytic section 62. The two first exchange sections are connected and a conduit 64 connects the collection section of each sector, with the exception of the first and last sector, to the exchange section of the next sector. The invention also concerns the process employing the reactor of the invention.

Abstract: The method allows liquefaction of a dry natural gas comprising water and heavy hydrocarbons containing more than five carbon atoms. The following stages are carried out: a) passing the dry natural gas through a water-adsorbent solid so as to obtain a water-depleted natural gas and a water-laden adsorbent solid, b) passing the water-depleted natural gas through a solid adsorbing heavy hydrocarbons comprising at least five carbon atoms so as to obtain a heavy hydrocarbon-depleted natural gas and a heavy hydrocarbon-laden adsorbent solid, c) liquefying the heavy hydrocarbon-depleted natural gas at a pressure above 40 bar abs so as to obtain a liquid natural gas under pressure, d) expanding the liquid natural gas under pressure obtained in stage c) to atmospheric pressure so as to obtain a liquid natural gas and a gas fraction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a reactor for catalytic reforming or for hydrocarbon dehydrogenation, having a cylindrical shape along a vertical axis, an upper head and a lower bottom comprising at least two annular zones centred on the vertical axis, said two annular zones being a zone termed a catalytic zone and a zone termed the exchange zone. Vertical hermetic panels divide the reactor into sectors, said sectors each comprising at least one exchange section and at least one catalytic section, the ensemble of said exchange sections forming the exchange zone and the ensemble of said catalytic sections forming the catalytic zone. The invention also concerns the process employing the reactor of the invention.