Abstract: A burner system (100) for the combustion of a hydrocarbon feedstock with an oxidant, comprising at least one burner (1) and a cooling circuit (2), where in: the burner system (100) comprises a fuel side (3, 15) and an oxidant side (4, 14); the burner (1) comprises a cooling chamber (5) connected to said cooling circuit(2); said cooling circuit (2) comprises a reservoir tank(8) for said cooling fluid and a circulation pump(16); said system (100) comprises pressure equalizing line (15b) arranged to establish a fluid communication between the inside of said reservoir tank (8) and at least one of said fuel side and oxidant side.

Abstract: A method for the suppression of soot formation during the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon-containing gaseous feed, in the presence of steam and in an ATR reactor or in a POX reactor, the method comprising the addition of gaseous carbon dioxide to the hydrocarbon-containing gaseous feed before entry into the reactor. A method for determining a minimum steam to carbon ratio required for scot-free operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process of partial oxidation is performed in a reactor which includes a reaction chamber and a burner assembly, wherein: the burner assembly has a single oxidant nozzle located within an fuel channel, said oxidant nozzle comprises a nozzle pipe and a nozzle outlet, the nozzle pipe and the fuel channel are arranged to produce a diffusion flame, the nozzle outlet has a shape with two or more elongate lobes projecting from a center of the nozzle pipe.

Abstract: A burner system (100) for the combustion of a hydrocarbon feedstock with an oxidant, comprising at least one burner (1) and a cooling circuit (2), where in: the burner system(100) comprises a fuel side (3, 15) and an oxidant side (4, 14); the burner (1) comprises a cooling chamber (5) connected to said cooling circuit(2); said cooling circuit (2) comprises a reservoir tank(8) for said cooling fluid and a circulation pump(16); said system (100) comprises pressure equalizing line (15b) arranged to establish a fluid communication between the inside of said reservoir tank (8) and at least one of said fuel side and oxidant side.

Abstract: A burner suitable for the over stoichiometric combustion of a hydrocarbon source, comprising a nozzle (2) for the formation of a diffusion flame outside the burner, and said nozzle (2) comprising one (20) or more (21, 22) tubular bodies which define a channel (25) or a plurality of coaxial channels (23, 24) for respective reactant streams, wherein the or each of the tubular bodies forming said nozzle (2) are made of a technical ceramic material.

Abstract: A process and related reactor (1) for oxidation of a hydrocarbon feedstock are disclosed, the reactor (1) comprising a vessel (3) and a neck (5) with an axial burner (6) and a tangential gas inlet (2), wherein the neck (5) has a swirling chamber (10) located below said burner (6) and connected to said gas inlet (2), to produce a gas vortex (V) which optimizes the mixing between the gas stream (G) and the oxidizer in said neck (5). Preferably the swirling chamber (10) has an internal surface (12) with a log-spiral profile.

Abstract: A method for revamping a secondary reformer (1), the reformer comprising an internal gas riser pipe (8) for routing a process gas from a bottom gas inlet to a combustion chamber (5) located above a catalytic zone (6), and a distributor (9) for introduction of an oxidation agent such as process air into the combustion chamber. The original distributor of the oxidation agent is discontinued, the gas riser pipe is shortened (8?) and the outlet end of the shortened gas riser pipe is arranged to deliver a gas flow directed upwards. A new burner (20) is installed on top of the reformer, the new burner being arranged to deliver an oxidation agent such as process air with a downward flow, thus obtaining a counterflow mixing zone (23) and formation of a diffusion flame above the outlet end of the gas riser pipe.

Abstract: A burner suitable for the over stoichiometric combustion of a hydrocarbon source, comprising a nozzle (2) for the formation of a diffusion flame outside the burner, and said nozzle (2) comprising one (20) or more (21, 22) tubular bodies which define a channel (25) or a plurality of coaxial channels (23, 24) for respective reactant streams, wherein the or each of the tubular bodies forming said nozzle (2) are made of a technical ceramic material.

Abstract: A method for revamping a secondary reformer (1), the reformer comprising an internal gas riser pipe (8) for routing a process gas from a bottom gas inlet to a combustion chamber (5) located above a catalytic zone (6), distribution means (9) for introduction of an oxidation agent such as process air into said combustion chamber, wherein the original distribution means of the oxidation agent are discontinued, the gas riser pipe is shortened (8?) and the outlet end of the shortened gas riser pipe is arranged to deliver a gas flow directed upwards; a new burner (20) is installed on top of the reactor, said new burner being arranged to deliver an oxidization agent such as process air with a downward flow, thus obtaining a counterflow mixing zone (23) and formation of a diffusion flame above the outlet end of the gas riser pipe.

Abstract: A catalytic secondary reforming process, for the production of synthesis gas, comprises the successive steps of: feeding a first gas flow comprising hydrocarbons and a second gas flow comprising oxygen into a reforming reactor, at least one of such gas flows being fed into the reactor in a predetermined feed direction substantially parallel, preferably coaxial, to a longitudinal axis of the reactor, mixing the gas flows in the reactor, with substantially simultaneous oxidation of the hydrocarbons of the first gas flow by the oxygen of the second flow.

Abstract: A catalytic secondary reforming process, for the production of synthesis gas, comprises the successive steps of: feeding a first gas flow comprising hydrocarbons and a second gas flow comprising oxygen into a reforming reactor, at least one of such gas flows being fed into the reactor in a predetermined feed direction substantially parallel, preferably coaxial, to a longitudinal axis of the reactor, mixing the gas flows in the reactor, with substantially simultaneous oxidation of the hydrocarbons of the first gas flow by the oxygen of the second flow.

Abstract: Plate type heat exchanger (20,120) for a isothermal chemical reactor (60), of the type comprising a substantially box-shaped flattened body (22), defining an internal chamber (24) and equipped with an inlet connection (28) and an outlet connection (29) for a first flow of a heat exchanger operative fluid into and from said chamber (24), at least one supplying-distributing device (26, 126) of a second fluid flow, associated with said body (22) and in fluid communication with the internal chamber (24) thereof, in order to regulate the temperature of said operative fluid, said at least one supplying-distributing device (26,126) being supported inside said internal chamber (24) and in fluid communication therewith.

Abstract: A burner (10) for the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising a combustion chamber and a pre-mixing chamber (E), and a plurality of annular passages for feeding fuel and oxidizer to the combustion chamber, said plurality of annular passages comprising at least a first annular passage for the fuel, and at least a second coaxial annular passage for the oxidizer, producing a layered flow into the premixing chamber (E). In a preferred embodiment the burner has an annular passage (1) for fuel or oxidizer surrounded by two other passages (2 and 3) for the oxidizer or fuel, respectively; in a further embodiment a start-up burner (20) is integrated with the main process burner, said start-up burner having a combustion chamber (L), a main hub (G) and a swirler (H), and providing a smooth transition from the start-up to the process phase that does not require any mechanical intervention of the pressure vessel/burner assembly and can be performed through automatic control systems.

Abstract: A process and related reactor (1) for oxidation of a hydrocarbon feedstock are disclosed, the reactor (1) comprising a vessel (3) and a neck (5) with an axial burner (6) and a tangential gas inlet (2), wherein the neck (5) has a swirling chamber (10) located below said burner (6) and connected to said gas inlet (2), to produce a gas vortex (V) which optimizes the mixing between the gas stream (G) and the oxidizer in said neck (5). Preferably the swirling chamber (10) has an internal surface (12) with a log-spiral profile.

Abstract: A catalytic secondary reforming process, for the production of synthesis gas, comprises the successive steps of: feeding a first gas flow comprising hydrocarbons and a second gas flow comprising oxygen into a reforming reactor, at least one of such gas flows being fed into the reactor in a predetermined feed direction substantially parallel, preferably coaxial, to a longitudinal axis of the reactor, mixing the gas flows in the reactor, with substantially simultaneous oxidation of the hydrocarbons of the first gas flow by the oxygen of the second flow.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for producing synthesis gas is described, the apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical shell (2) closed by opposite bottoms (3, 4), at least one inlet opening (8) for feeding a gaseous flow comprising oxygen, at least one inlet opening (7) for a gaseous flow comprising hydrocarbons and at least one outlet opening for a flow of synthesis gas and at least one burner (9) in fluid communication with a reaction chamber (15) for partially oxidising and/or reforming said hydrocarbons obtaining said flow of synthesis gas, and being characterised in that it comprises a pipe (12) of a ceramic material extended inside said shell (2), said pipe (12) of ceramic material internally defining said reaction chamber (15).

Abstract: Plate type heat exchanger (20,120) for a isothermal chemical reactor (60), of the type comprising a substantially box-shaped flattened body (22), defining an internal chamber (24) and equipped with an inlet connection (28) and an outlet connection (29) for a first flow of a heat exchanger operative fluid into and from said chamber (24), at least one supplying-distributing device (26, 126) of a second fluid flow, associated with said body (22) and in fluid communication with the internal chamber (24) thereof, in order to regulate the temperature of said operative fluid, said at least one supplying-distributing device (26,126) being supported inside said internal chamber (24) and in fluid communication therewith.

Abstract: A catalytic secondary reforming process, for the production of synthesis gas, comprises the successive steps of: feeding a first gas flow comprising hydrocarbons and a second gas flow comprising oxygen into a reforming reactor, at least one of such gas flows being fed into the reactor in a predetermined feed direction substantially parallel, preferably coaxial, to a longitudinal axis of the reactor, mixing the gas flows in the reactor, with substantially simultaneous oxidation of the hydrocarbons of the first gas flow by the oxygen of the second flow.