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Simulation of primary and secondary reformers for improved energy performance of an ammonia plant
Author(s) -
Ravi K.,
Dhingra Subhash Chander,
Guha Barun Kumar,
Joshi Yogesh Kumar
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.270120151
Subject(s) - naphtha , natural gas , methane , primary (astronomy) , steam reforming , primary energy , waste management , methane reformer , ammonia , energy consumption , chemistry , environmental science , process engineering , hydrogen , engineering , hydrogen production , catalysis , renewable energy , organic chemistry , electrical engineering , physics , astronomy
The energy consumption of ammonia plants based on steam reforming of naphtha or natural gas can be reduced by shifting the reforming load from the primary to the secondary reformer. It is shown that lowering of the primary reformer operating temperature 20 °C results in 2% increase of unconverted methane content in the outlet stream. The increased methane content can be processed in the secondary reformer if the process air inlet temperature is increased to 400 °C. The lower operating temperature reduces the energy consumption of the primary reformer by about 6% (and the overall consumption by about 2%) and also prolongs the service life of reformer tubes.