Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing a low-nitrogen synthesis gas from a natural gas containing nitrogen and carbon dioxide, from which water and carbon dioxide are removed in a first temperature swing adsorption plant and subsequently nitrogen is removed in a cryogenic gas fractionator, to give a low-nitrogen, water-free and carbon dioxide-free natural gas, which is next supplied to a thermochemical conversion, so as to recover a crude syngas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, water and carbon dioxide, from which the low-nitrogen synthesis gas is obtained at least by the removal of water and carbon dioxide in a second temperature swing adsorption plant. The characteristic feature here is that at least a part of the low-nitrogen, water-free and carbon dioxide-free natural gas prior to its thermochemical conversion is used as regenerating gas in the regeneration of the first and/or second temperature swing adsorption plant.

Abstract: A method for producing urea. A methane-containing feed gas stream is reacted with oxygen by partial oxidation to form a synthesis gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide is reacted with water in a water gas-shift reaction to form carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The synthesis gas stream is separated into a first synthesis gas substream a second synthesis gas substream. The first synthesis gas substream is subjected to pressure-swing adsorption to separate hydrogen and the second synthesis gas substream is subjected to temperature-swing adsorption to separate carbon dioxide. The separated is reacted with nitrogen to form ammonia and the ammonia is reacted with the carbon dioxide to form urea.

Abstract: A method for operating a steam reforming plant wherein a hydrocarbon-rich feed is reacted with steam to form synthesis gas. The plant includes a steam reforming reactor and processing units to obtain a hydrogen-rich fraction after separation of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The plant also includes a pressure-swing adsorption plant to separate the hydrogen-rich fraction into product and residual gas. A recycle compressor is included and allows the plant to operate is two different modes. In the first mode, carbon dioxide separated from the synthesis gas is compressed and added to the hydrocarbon-rich feed. In the second mode, the recycle compressor is used to recycle residual gas from the pressure-swing adsorption plant to the hydrogen-rich fraction upstream of the pressure-swing adsorption plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for generation of a crude synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon-containing feed which is at a first pressure and also a steam feed which is at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure, wherein the hydrocarbon-containing feed and the steam feed are introduced jointly into a reactor and are there reacted at a process pressure that is higher than the first pressure to form the crude synthesis gas. The pressure of at least a part of the hydrocarbon-containing feed is increased before introduction thereof into the reactor using a steam jet pump to which at least a part of the steam feed is fed as motive medium.

Abstract: A method for operating a steam reforming plant wherein a hydrocarbon-rich feed is reacted with steam to form synthesis gas. The plant includes a steam reforming reactor and processing units to obtain a hydrogen-rich fraction after separation of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The plant also includes a pressure-swing adsorption plant to separate the hydrogen-rich fraction into product and residual gas. A recycle compressor is included and allows the plant to operate is two different modes. In the first mode, carbon dioxide separated from the synthesis gas is compressed and added to the hydrocarbon-rich feed. In the second mode, the recycle compressor is used to recycle residual gas from the pressure-swing adsorption plant to the hydrogen-rich fraction upstream of the pressure-swing adsorption plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the parallel production of at least two synthesis gases (10, 11) having different compositions from a hydrocarbon-containing starting material (1) which is, after mixing with steam (2) and/or carbon dioxide (3), fed to a steam reformer (R) and there converted into synthesis gas by steam reforming in at least two catalyst tubes (K1, K2, K3) operated in parallel. It is characteristic of the invention that at least two mixtures (6, 9) having different compositions are formed from the hydrocarbon-containing starting material (1) by division and addition of steam (2) and/or carbon dioxide (3), where each of the different mixtures (6, 9) is fed as exclusive feed to a catalyst tube or a group of catalyst tubes (K1, K2, K3) of the steam reformer (R) and converted into synthesis gas (10, 11).

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for generating at least two types of steam having different purities in steam reforming processes in which at least two steam reforming units (steam reformers) (are operated in parallel. The first steam stream having a higher purity than that of the second steam stream. The steam reformers operated in parallel are combined to form groups of at least two steam reformers (groups) within which the high purity steam is generated in one of the steam reformers by vaporization of degassed and demineralized water and low purity steam is generated in at least one of the other steam reformers by vaporization of degassed impurity-containing water (dirty water). The dirty water is formed at least in part from the condensate (process condensate) produced within a group, and is predominantly made up of water.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for generating steam in steam reformation processes in which at least one first steam stream and one second steam stream are generated. The first steam stream (process steam) is preferably completely used in the steam reformation process, while the second steam stream (export steam) can be utilized externally. The export steam is generated preferably solely by vaporizing degassed and demineralized water (high purity water).

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for generating at least two types of steam having different purities in steam reforming processes in which at least two steam reforming units (steam reformers) (are operated in parallel. The first steam stream having a higher purity than that of the second steam stream. The steam reformers operated in parallel are combined to form groups of at least two steam reformers (groups) within which the high purity steam is generated in one of the steam reformers by vaporization of degassed and demineralized water and low purity steam is generated in at least one of the other steam reformers by vaporization of degassed impurity-containing water (dirty water). The dirty water is formed at least in part from the condensate (process condensate) produced within a group, and is predominantly made up of water.