Table 6 Typical key SMR hydrogen plant monitoring parameters
Monitored variable
Frequency
Basis
Overall unit
Feed rate(s)
Daily
Trend meters
Production rate(s)
Daily
Trend meters
Material balance
Weekly/monthly
Detailed calculation
Feed pretreat process
Hydrogen recycle rate
Daily
Trend meter
Hydrotreater temperatures
Weekly
Review data
Zinc oxide bed outlet H 2 S
Weekly
Look for breakthrough
SMR and shift processes
Steam/carbon ratio
Daily
Trend, verify weekly
Reformer outlet temperature
Daily
Trend
Reformer outlet pressure
Daily
Trend
Reformer tube pressure drop
Weekly
Trend normalized dP – watch for jumps
Reformer max tube wall
temp
Weekly
Trend, watch for hot spots
Methane slip
Daily
Trend, adjust
Reformer ATE
Weekly/monthly
Calculate, trend – watch for
deactivation
Shift converter outlet temps
Daily
Trend
Shift converter rises
Daily
Trend
CO slip
Daily
Trend, adjust
HTSC ATE
Weekly/monthly
Calculate, trend – watch for
deactivation
LTSC temp front location
Weekly/monthly
Calculate, trend – watch for
deactivation
Boiler water chemistry
Weekly
pH, conductivity, hardness – adjust
Steam production/
distribution
Weekly
Trend – watch for loss in rates
SCR performance
Weekly/monthly
Watch for increasing NH 3 rqmt =>
deactivation
Product purification
Overall purification
Product purity, % H 2
Weekly
Watch for loss of purity, ethane
Product H 2 /unit feed
Weekly
Watch for loss of efficiency, trends
Solvent/wet chemical
Lean and rich loadings
Weekly
Keep within design limits
Methanator rise
Daily
Trend, watch for increases => CO 2
removal problem
Methanator temp front
location
Weekly/monthly
Trend location in bed => deactivation
CO 2 production rate
Daily
Trend
Pressure swing adsorption
Recovery, v% raw H 2
Weekly
Calculate and trend => efficiency loss,
optimization
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