Abstract: A method for retrofitting an existing steam methane reformer (SMR) for ammonia cracking is provided. In this embodiment, the existing SMR can include a pre-reformer, a desulfurization unit, a furnace, waste heat recovery sections, a water gas shift reactor, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit, wherein the furnace has a plurality of SMR tubes and a plurality of burners. In certain embodiments, the method can include the steps of: providing the existing SMR; taking the desulfurization unit offline such that no fluid flows through the desulfurization during operation; taking the pre-reformer offline such that no fluid flows through the pre-reformer during operation; and adding means for providing a gaseous ammonia stream to the SMR tubes.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing hydrogen using a retrofitted steam methane reformer (SMR) via ammonia cracking is provided. The apparatus can include: means for providing a pressurized and gaseous ammonia stream to a plurality of reactor tubes; a furnace having the plurality of reactor tubes and a plurality of burners, wherein the furnace is configured to catalytically crack the ammonia within the reactor tubes to produce a crude process gas and a flue gas; a plurality of waste heat recovery sections; and a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit disposed downstream the furnace, wherein the PSA unit is configured to receive the crude process gas, or a gas derived therefrom, and produce a hydrogen product stream and a PSA offgas.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing hydrogen in an existing steam methane reformer (SMR) via ammonia cracking, the apparatus comprising: an ammonia storage vessel; a furnace having a plurality of reactor tubes and a plurality of burners, wherein the reactor tubes and the burners are in fluid communication with the ammonia storage vessel, such that the reactor tubes and the burners are configured to receive a flow of ammonia gas sourced from the ammonia storage vessel, and catalytically crack the ammonia within the reactor tubes to produce a crude process gas and a flue gas; a plurality of waste heat recovery sections; a boiler feed water preparation system; means for treating the crude process gas in order to reduce the amount of the unreacted ammonia in the crude process gas, thereby resulting in an aqueous ammonia stream and a washed crude stream; and a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit disposed downstream the means for treating the crude process gas.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing hydrogen in an steam methane reformer (SMR) via ammonia cracking, wherein the SMR can include a furnace, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit, waste heat recovery sections, and a water scrubber, wherein the furnace has a plurality of SMR tubes and a plurality of burners. The method can include the steps of: withdrawing ammonia from an ammonia storage vessel; preheating the ammonia to form a warm ammonia stream; introducing the warm ammonia stream into the SMR tubes of the furnace under conditions effective for catalytically cracking the ammonia, thereby forming a crude stream comprising hydrogen, nitrogen, and unreacted ammonia; treating the crude stream with a water wash in order to remove the unreacted ammonia from the crude stream, thereby resulting in an aqueous ammonia stream and a washed crude stream; and introducing the washed crude stream into the PSA unit to produce a hydrogen product stream and a PSA off-gas.

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: 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.