Abstract: A method for converting an existing steam methane reformer (SMR) to produce hydrogen via ammonia cracking is provided. The method can include the steps of: providing the existing SMR, wherein the SMR was formerly used to produce hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock; and improving the nitridation resistance of the inner surface of the equipment by adding a protective layer to an inner surface of equipment to be used in the existing SMR, wherein the equipment is selected from the group consisting of a catalyst tube, feed piping, a feed preheater, process gas heat exchangers, and combination thereof.

Abstract: A hydrogen production facility having equipment with a nitridation protective layer is provided. The hydrogen production facility can include a reformer configured to catalytically convert a feed stream into a product stream comprising hydrogen, the reformer having a plurality of catalyst tubes and a plurality of burners configured to provide heat to the catalyst tubes; means for providing the feed stream to the reformer from an ammonia source, wherein the feed stream comprises at least 90% of ammonia, wherein the plurality of catalyst tubes comprise a nitridation protective layer on an inner surface of the catalyst tubes.

Abstract: Provided is a burner arrangement for producing synthesis gas by non-catalytic or catalytic partial oxidation of fluid or fluidized carbon-containing fuels in the presence of an oxidant and a moderator, including following assemblies: (a) a feeding means for separately feeding three fluid reaction media streams or two fluid and one fluidized reaction media stream into a burner, (b) at least one burner, (c) outer wall of the at least one burner is fluid-tightly connected to a burner mounting plate, (d) a reaction chamber, (e) the at least one burner is insertable into the reaction chamber, and (f) outer wall of the at least one burner and the side of the at least one burner mounting plate facing away from the interior of the reaction chamber are designed to allow cooling by indirect heat exchange with a cooling fluid.

Abstract: A process is proposed for producing pure hydrogen by steam reforming of a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons, preferably natural gas or naphtha, with a simultaneously low and preferably adjustable export steam flow rate. The process includes the steam reforming of the feed gas, for which the heat of reaction required is provided by combustion of one or more fuel gases with combustion air in a multitude of burners arranged within the reformer furnace. According to the invention, the combustion air, before being introduced into the burners, is heated by means of at least one heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with the hot flue gas to temperatures of at least 530° C.

Abstract: A reformer tube for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming of hydrocarbon-containing input gases is proposed where an outer shell tube is divided by means of a separating tray into the reaction chamber and an exit chamber, a dumped bed of a steam-reforming-active, solid catalyst is arranged in the reaction chamber, at least one heat exchanger tube is arranged inside the reaction chamber and inside the dumped catalyst bed whose entry end is in fluid connection with the catalyst bed and whose exit end is in fluid connection with the exit chamber, wherein gas-contacted parts of the reformer tube, in particular the at least one heat exchanger tube, are fabricated from a nickel-based alloy and coated on their inside with an aluminum diffusion layer.

Abstract: A method for producing hydrogen in a steam methane reformer with reduced carbon emissions that can include the steps of: heating a feed stream comprising methane in a first heat exchanger to produce a heated feed stream, wherein the heated feed stream is at a temperature above 500° C.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing hydrogen in a steam methane reformer with reduced carbon emissions, the apparatus comprising: a first heat exchanger configured to heat a feed stream comprising methane to produce a heated feed stream that is at a temperature above 500° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to prevent the fluidization of a catalytic fixed bed present in a tubular reactor operated in upward-flow configuration by estimating a pressure drop margin remaining before fluidization of the catalytic bed and adjusting the reactant gas flow in response. It relates also to a method to operate safely a furnace suitable for performing endothermic reactions containing a plurality of catalytic fixed bed reactors operated in upward-flow configuration, and to a method to debottleneck safely a catalytic fixed bed reactor involving a gas flowing in up flow direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor, in particular a reactor for purifying offgases. The reactor includes a plurality of housing openings which open into a housing shaft, wherein the housing shafts are fitted with catalyst units. The reactor includes a sealing housing per housing shaft which allows replacement of the catalyst units in the course of ongoing operation of the reactor by way of a suitable arrangement of sealing elements and covering elements without there being any air exchange between an external environment of the reactor and the respective housing shaft.

Abstract: A reformer tube for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming of hydrocarbon-containing feed gases, in which a structured stream reforming catalyst is used, is proposed. According to the invention, a heat exchanger tube is arranged in the interior of the structured catalyst, with the feed gas stream flowing firstly through the structured catalyst and subsequently in countercurrent through the heat exchanger tube. This improves the heat exchange between the synthesis gas product stream and the structured catalyst and the feed gas stream flowing through it, especially in the radial direction.

Abstract: Described herein are a measurement apparatus for measuring axial temperature profiles in a reactor tube, a connecting piece for connecting the reactor tube to a feed pipe configured as a thermal stress compensator for a reaction input stream and for lateral introduction of a multipoint thermocouple into the reactor tube, the use of the connecting piece/measurement apparatus for measuring axial temperature profiles in a reformer tube for steam reforming of hydrocarbons and a process for installing the measurement apparatus.

Abstract: A process is proposed for producing pure hydrogen by steam reforming of a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons, preferably natural gas or naphtha, with a simultaneously low and preferably adjustable export steam flow rate. The process includes the steam reforming of the feed gas, for which the heat of reaction required is provided by combustion of one or more fuel gases with combustion air in a multitude of burners arranged within the reformer furnace. According to the invention, the combustion air, before being introduced into the burners, is heated by means of at least one heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with the hot flue gas to temperatures of at least 530° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant for production of hydrogen, and to a method for operating this plant, comprising a steam reforming reactor having a furnace, in which reactor water and at least one carbonaceous energy carrier are reacted to form a hydrogen-containing crude synthesis gas, and at least one cleaning device for purifying the crude synthesis gas, to which the crude synthesis gas is fed from the steam reforming via at least one feed line. According to the invention, upstream of one of the at least one cleaning devices at least one return line branches off from the feed line, through which the crude synthesis gas is at least in part recirculated into the furnace of the steam reforming reactor.

Abstract: A reformer tube for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming of hydrocarbon-containing input gases is proposed where an outer shell tube is divided by means of a separating tray into the reaction chamber and an exit chamber, a dumped bed of a steam-reforming-active, solid catalyst is arranged in the reaction chamber, at least one heat exchanger tube is arranged inside the reaction chamber and inside the dumped catalyst bed whose entry end is in fluid connection with the catalyst bed and whose exit end is in fluid connection with the exit chamber, wherein gas-contacted parts of the reformer tube, in particular the at least one heat exchanger tube, are fabricated from a nickel-based alloy and coated on their inside with an aluminum diffusion layer.

Abstract: A reformer tube for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming of hydrocarbon-containing feed gases, in which a structured stream reforming catalyst is used, is proposed. According to the invention, a heat exchanger tube is arranged in the interior of the structured catalyst, with the feed gas stream flowing firstly through the structured catalyst and subsequently in countercurrent through the heat exchanger tube. This improves the heat exchange between the synthesis gas product stream and the structured catalyst and the feed gas stream flowing through it, especially in the radial direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant for production of hydrogen, and to a method for operating this plant, comprising a steam reforming reactor having a furnace, in which reactor water and at least one carbonaceous energy carrier are reacted to form a hydrogen-containing crude synthesis gas, and at least one cleaning device for purifying the crude synthesis gas, to which the crude synthesis gas is fed from the steam reforming via at least one feed line. According to the invention, upstream of one of the at least one cleaning devices at least one return line branches off from the feed line, through which the crude synthesis gas is at least in part recirculated into the furnace of the steam reforming reactor.

Abstract: A reformer tube for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming of hydrocarbon-containing feed gases, preferably natural gas, includes one or more helically coiled heat exchanger tubes which are arranged within a catalyst bed of a reforming catalyst and are helically coiled over part of their length located within the catalyst bed and are otherwise straight are present, where the straight proportion of the heat exchanger tubes and/or the helix pitch of the helically coiled part alters within the catalyst bed and matching to requirements of the pressure drop, the heat exchange properties, and the corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A safety means for protecting a plant section located on the pressure side of a jet compressor connected with a propellant system against the exceedance of an admissible pressure, comprising a controlled safety valve actuated by external energy, whose control means measures is connected with the plant section to be protected via at least one pressure tapping line, wherein the safety valve is arranged such that upon exceedance of the pressure in the protected plant section it can vent propellant from the propellant system.

Abstract: A method for producing a synthesis-gas product gas and a vapor stream includes catalytic steam reforming a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a steam reformer. The hot synthesis-gas product gas stream is cooled in a heat exchanger to form a cooled synthesis-gas product gas stream and a first partial vapor stream, which is supplied to the product vapor stream. The reforming furnace is operated so as to burn a burner feedstock in burners, cool a hot flue gas stream from the burners in a heat exchanger to form a cooled flue gas stream and a second partial vapor stream, and separate the cooled flue gas stream into a waste gas stream and a flue gas recirculation stream. The flow of the recirculated flue gas is increased with decreasing flow of the synthesis-gas product gas to obtain an approximately constant product vapor stream by increasing the second partial vapor stream.

Abstract: A reformer tube for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming of hydrocarbon-containing feed gases, preferably natural gas, includes one or more helically coiled heat exchanger tubes which are arranged within a catalyst bed of a reforming catalyst and are helically coiled over part of their length located within the catalyst bed and are otherwise straight are present, where the straight proportion of the heat exchanger tubes and/or the helix pitch of the helically coiled part alters within the catalyst bed and matching to requirements of the pressure drop, the heat exchange properties, and the corrosion resistance.