Upgrading natural gas energy by HTR process heat

The contribution deals with the possibility, from the midnineties onward, to upgrade the energy content of the natural gas delivered to Western Europe from the Soviet Union by coupling in nuclear process heat. The procedure is meant to increase the calorific value of natural gas so as to stretch out reserves and even limit the growing dependency on foreign gas imports or relieve balances of trade. In particular, the possibility to improve the calorific value of methane, the main constituent of natural gas, by the highly endothermal reaction of methane reforming is being investigated. This process is to be conducted, e.g., in the classic reforming tube of a high temperature process heat reactor. (orig.)