Hydrogen Production Unit

Hydrogen Production Unit

Main steps:

- Feed treatment
- Pre-reforming for naphtha as feed
- Steam reforming
- Shift reaction, meaning CO conversion
- Hydrogen concentration via PSA

1. Feed treatment:
- to remove any sulfur compounds, heavy metals, halogens to avoid deactivation of reforming and shift catalyst
- level of sulfur, metals & halogens shall be 0.5 ppm and naphtha final boiling point shall be limited at 250C to minimize coke formation
- olefins content shall not be higher than 15% to prevent coke

2. Pre-reforming:
- to convert ethane and heavier components like LPG & Naphtha in roughly 70% methane and 20 % H2, balance carbon oxides in presence of Ni based catalyst adiabatically
- main benefits are reducing reforming furnace heat load, increases heater tubes life and minimize cost / maximize efficiency

3. Steam reforming:
- Catalytically converts methane and heavier hydrocarbons in syngas, a mixture of H2 & carbon dioxide, endothermic reaction at higher temperature moderate pressure. Syngas is roughly 75% H2, 11% CO, 6% methane, balance CO2.

4. Shift reaction: converts the remaining CO in H2 by exothermic reaction

5. PSA used to concentrate the H2 at 99.999% with 90% recovery.

History: Foster Wheeler is in H2 business from 1950 (Terrace Wall Reformer) and Haldor Topsoe back in 1962 (Radiant Wall Reformer).

Terrace Wall is a fire box with 1 (one) row of tube with catalyst, burners are on 2 levels on either side of tubes providing higher reliability, low maintenance, positive firing control, low steam to carbon ratio and uniform heat distribution.

Radiant Wall has tubes on single row along the centerline of radiant section with burners at different levels, the flames are directed backwards towards the walls, in this way the heat is controlled per entire tube length, flame impingement is nil, smooth heat control from zero to maximum capacity and easy access to all burner from outside.

eBook:

-
- https://lnkd.in/evN6h_w
- https://lnkd.in/eF4KWM9
- https://lnkd.in/eUcR2kk

With respect and joy to share free technical info,
Mihail