Tubular Reactor and Method for Operating a Tubular Reactor

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention describes a tubular (pipe-shaped) reactor and a method for its operation, designed to efficiently convert hydrogen into methane. The reactor features three consecutive reaction zones, each optimized with specific catalysts (ruthenium and nickel) and temperature ranges. This design allows flexible, efficient, and dynamic methane production from hydrogen (such as that obtained from water electrolysis), even when the hydrogen supply fluctuates.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Integrating renewable electricity (solar, wind) into the existing natural gas infrastructure by converting surplus electricity via hydrogen to methane.
• Power-to-gas plants for storing surplus renewable energy as methane in the natural gas grid.
• Flexible synthetic natural gas (SNG) production plants coping with variable input flows of hydrogen.
• Industrial applications where stable methane production is required from intermittent hydrogen sources.
• Fuel production for vehicles using synthetic methane derived from renewable hydrogen.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Efficient and flexible methane production from hydrogen despite variable hydrogen feed rates.
• Reduced need for large and expensive hydrogen storage systems.
• Compact reactor design due to the high catalytic activity of ruthenium, leading to lower costs and space requirements.
• Lower start-up times and energy consumption, as the first reaction zone can quickly reach operational temperature.
• High yield and quality of synthetic methane suitable for direct injection into existing natural gas grids.
• Potential for rapid and energy-efficient heating through electrically conductive catalyst structures.
• Cost optimization by using ruthenium only in the zones with the highest activity needs, and cheaper nickel elsewhere.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a tubular reactor, and to a tubular reactor for converting hydrogen to methane, comprising a first reaction zone with a metallic carrier structure which is coated with a ruthenium-containing material, with a temperature in a first temperature range, a second reaction zone with a metallic carrier structure which is configured with a ruthenium-containing material, or with a catalyst bed comprising ruthenium in the form of a bulk material, with a temperature in a second temperature range, and a third reaction zone with a catalyst bed in the form of a bulk material comprising nickel as the catalyst, with a temperature in a third temperature range.