Chapter 20 - Environmentally benign hydrocarbon processing applications of single and integrated permreactors

Abstract

This chapter investigates the methane-steam reforming and the propane dehydrogenation reaction in various catalytic inorganic permreactors. The proposed permreactors can be beneficially used as reactant or product recycling and distributing devices. Enhanced conversions and yields can be achieved for various types of permreactor operation for the methane steam reforming and propane dehydrogenation. The chapter also presents new process designs employed for steam hydrocarbon reforming, the water gas shift, and paraffin dehydrogenation in inorganic, metal, and organic-polymer permreactors and permeators. These constitute the basis for designing improved, environmentally benign, integrated hydrocarbon upgrading, and in situ CO2 abatement systems for hydrogen, H2–CO2, synthesis gas, and hydrogen rich hydrocarbon generation. The permeated or combined product gases can be utilized inline for synthesis or as feed in molten carbonate and other types of hydrogen based fuel cells, and in power generation systems. In the case of a dehydrogenator, rejected olefin streams such as propylene, ethylene, and n/i-butene can be used for polymer production or in other chemical synthesis.