Method for operating a reformer furnace and reforming plant

US9011562B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions Germany GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Bernd Polster · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Alexander Roesch · Oppenheim, DE
• Matthew Shaver · Houston, US
• Dieter Ulber · Steinbach, DE
• Ulrich Wolf · Laax, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 8, 2010
• Grant date: Apr 21, 2015
• Expiry date: Apr 24, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/129
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

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.