Claims
- 1. A process for producing methane in a single reaction zone in the presence of iron, Fe.sub.3 C, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and water comprising:
- (a) maintaining in a fluidized bed, iron and Fe.sub.3 C in a single reactor without substantial further additions of iron and/or Fe.sub.3 C to the reactor;
- (b) introducing a gas mixture containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen into the reactor;
- (c) reacting the iron and Fe.sub.3 C with the carbon monoxide and hydrogen and balancing the ratio of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, water and methane under conditions such that a portion of the carbon monoxide is reduced to carbon, iron is reacted with the carbon to produce Fe.sub.3 C, and the Fe.sub.3 C is reacted with hydrogen to form methane and reform iron;
- (d) removing water and/or carbon dioxide; via a recycle gas stream; and
- (e) recovering methane from the reactor.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction is conducted at a temperature of from about 600.degree. F. to about 1200.degree. F.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction is conducted from about 600.degree. F. to about 950.degree. F.
- 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction is conducted at a pressure of from about 1 to about 10 atmospheres.
- 5. The process of claim 1 wherein methane is recovered in continuous fashion from the reactor.
- 6. The process of claim 1 wherein carbon dioxide is added to the reactor as a source of carbon.
- 7. The process of claim 1 wherein water is removed from the reactor via a recycle gas stream.
- 8. The process of claim 7 wherein the water is continuously removed.
- 9. The process of claim 1 wherein carbon dioxide is removed via a recycle gas stream.
- 10. The process of claim 9 wherein the carbon dioxide is continuously removed.
- 11. The process of claim 2 wherein the reaction is conducted at a pressure of from about 1 to about 10 atmospheres.
- 12. The process of claim 2 wherein methane is recovered in continuous fashion from the reactor.
- 13. The process of claim 2 wherein carbon dioxide is added to the reactor as a source of carbon.
- 14. The process of claim 2 wherein water is removed from the reactor via a recycle gas stream.
- 15. The process of claim 2 wherein the water is continuously removed.
- 16. The process of claim 2 wherein carbon dioxide is removed via a recycle gas stream.
- 17. The process of claim 16 wherein the carbon dioxide is continuously removed.
- 18. The process of claim 4 wherein methane is recovered in continuous fashion from the reactor.
- 19. The process of claim 4 wherein the water and/or carbon dioxide is removed during the reaction by means of a recycle gas stream.
- 20. The process of claim 4 wherein carbon dioxide is added to the reactor as a source of carbon.
- 21. The process of claim 4 wherein water is removed from the reactor via a recycle gas stream.
- 22. The process of claim 21 wherein the water is continuously removed.
- 23. The process of claim 4 wherein carbon dioxide is removed via a recycle gas stream.
- 24. The process of claim 23 wherein the carbon dioxide is continuously removed.
- 25. A process for converting a first gas mixture containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen into a second gas mixture of methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen having a substantially increased fuel value over said first gas mixture in a single reaction zone which comprises,
- (a) maintaining iron and Fe.sub.3 C in a fluidized bed in the reaction zone without substantial further additions of iron and/or Fe.sub.3 C to the reaction zone;
- (b) continuously introducing said first gas mixture into said fluidized bed in the reaction zone;
- (c) adjusting gas compositions in the reaction zone by a circulating gas stream which removes water and/or carbon dioxide so as to maintain mixtures of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, water and methane which are thermodynamically favorable for maintaining the presence of Fe.sub.3 C and the formation of methane;
- (d) continuously removing from said reaction zone as a product said second gas mixture of methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen having an increased fuel value.
- 26. The process of claim 25 wherein the reaction is conducted at a temperature of from about 600.degree. F. to about 1200.degree. F.
- 27. The process of claim 25 wherein the reaction is conducted at a temperature of from about 600.degree. F. to about 950.degree. F.
- 28. The process of claim 25 wherein the reaction is conducted at a pressure of from about 1 to about 10 atmospheres.
- 29. The process of claim 25 wherein methane is recovered in continuous fashion from the reactor.
- 30. The process of claim 25 wherein carbon dioxide is added to the reactor as a source of carbon.
- 31. The process of claim 25 wherein water is removed from the reactor via a recycle gas stream.
- 32. The process of claim 25 wherein the water is continuously removed.
- 33. The process of claim 25 wherein carbon dioxide is removed via a recycle gas stream.
- 34. The process of claim 25 wherein the carbon dioxide is continuously removed.
DESCRIPTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, U.S. Ser. No. 817,576, filed July 21, 1977 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,907.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
817576 |
Jul 1977 |
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