– Sometimes, the chloride content is tolerable, especially if the reformer hydrogen is only a minor portion of the makeup to the user.
– See the discussion of effluent salts in the chapters on hydrocracking and
hydrotreating.
• Frequently, reformer net hydrogen is sent through a low-temperature chloride
absorber to remove the chloride compounds.
– These absorbers use granular solid sorbents, like alumina, to remove the
chloride to about 0.1 vppm as HCl.
– The sorbent must be monitored and periodically changed out.
– These beds often have issues with channeling unless the reformer hydrogen
stream is kept free of liquid (Do not let it cool).
– If there are substantial olefins in the reformer hydrogen (e.g., from
running a reformer past EOR), there are significant aromatics in the gas,
and/or the sorbent surface is acidic (which can be due to the being
nearly spent or from presence of excessive water vapor), a chloride absorber
will make “green oil.” These are polymeric, chlorinated hydrocarbons.
They will drop out in low spots, foul compressor valves, and move chloride
into the process units. These can somewhat defeat the purpose of the
absorber. Absorbents are available to reduce green oil formation through
the absorbent used or alkaline additives to reduce acidification of the
surface.
Further Information on Reformer Hydrogen
Please refer to the chapter on naphtha reforming for additional detail on hydrogen
production from catalytic reforming.
Steam-Methane Reforming
Introduction
Steam-methane reforming (SMR) is the main process used in refineries to produce
hydrogen. It should not be confused with catalytic naphtha reforming. The technology is offered by several companies on a proprietary basis, including Haldor
Topsoe, Foster Wheeler, CB&I/HoweBaker, Lurgi, and KTI.
In the SMR reactions, methane is reacted with steam at very high temperatures
and relatively low pressures to make hydrogen and a mixture of CO/CO 2 . The
process is used extensively by all industries requiring hydrogen. The largest
hydrogen plants are used in the manufacture of ammonia. These are usually several
times larger than the plants we use in refineries.
When a facility decides to purchase hydrogen over the fence from a gas supplier,
that supplier is normally making the hydrogen using SMR.
570
S.A. Treese
– See the discussion of effluent salts in the chapters on hydrocracking and
hydrotreating.
• Frequently, reformer net hydrogen is sent through a low-temperature chloride
absorber to remove the chloride compounds.
– These absorbers use granular solid sorbents, like alumina, to remove the
chloride to about 0.1 vppm as HCl.
– The sorbent must be monitored and periodically changed out.
– These beds often have issues with channeling unless the reformer hydrogen
stream is kept free of liquid (Do not let it cool).
– If there are substantial olefins in the reformer hydrogen (e.g., from
running a reformer past EOR), there are significant aromatics in the gas,
and/or the sorbent surface is acidic (which can be due to the being
nearly spent or from presence of excessive water vapor), a chloride absorber
will make “green oil.” These are polymeric, chlorinated hydrocarbons.
They will drop out in low spots, foul compressor valves, and move chloride
into the process units. These can somewhat defeat the purpose of the
absorber. Absorbents are available to reduce green oil formation through
the absorbent used or alkaline additives to reduce acidification of the
surface.
Further Information on Reformer Hydrogen
Please refer to the chapter on naphtha reforming for additional detail on hydrogen
production from catalytic reforming.
Steam-Methane Reforming
Introduction
Steam-methane reforming (SMR) is the main process used in refineries to produce
hydrogen. It should not be confused with catalytic naphtha reforming. The technology is offered by several companies on a proprietary basis, including Haldor
Topsoe, Foster Wheeler, CB&I/HoweBaker, Lurgi, and KTI.
In the SMR reactions, methane is reacted with steam at very high temperatures
and relatively low pressures to make hydrogen and a mixture of CO/CO 2 . The
process is used extensively by all industries requiring hydrogen. The largest
hydrogen plants are used in the manufacture of ammonia. These are usually several
times larger than the plants we use in refineries.
When a facility decides to purchase hydrogen over the fence from a gas supplier,
that supplier is normally making the hydrogen using SMR.
570
S.A. Treese