Method for converting natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons

Abstract

A process for converting natural gas to a liquid includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily acetylene, and reacting methane and the reactive hydrocarbons in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, predominantly pentane. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions is used to heat the incoming natural gas, either with a hydrogen furnace or by electrical energy generated from the hydrogen. Little or no use of methane is required to supply energy for the process.