Abstract: An improved furnace design for carrying out the catalytic steam reforming of hydrocarbons, including an air delivery and burner system which extends across the top of the furnace. The air delivery system includes a plurality of air ducts each forming a plenum arch, with the arches being suspended between their respective ends as they span the top of the furnace. Burners, for providing heat to the radiant section of the furnace, are spaced within each of such arches and extend into the furnace. Further, the plenum arches provide a supporing structure for the insulation forming the top the radiant section of the furnace.

Abstract: A catalyst composition consisting of elemental nickel, nickel oxide or mixtures thereof on a zirconia carrier and promoted with elemental cobalt, a cobalt oxide or mixtures thereof in which the total content of nickel and cobalt, expressed as oxide, is desirably at least 1 weight percent of the total weight of the composition and the weight ratio of nickel to cobalt in the catalyst is preferably between 1:10 and 6:1. This invention also concerns the method of reforming hydrocarbons in the presence of said catalyst to selectively produce hydrogen, hydrogen containing products, such as Town's gas, or an oxide of carbon or mixtures thereof, while avoiding substantial carbon accumulation on the catalyst at relatively low steam to carbon ratios.