• The normalized pressure drop of 37 psi is somewhat high for most
reformers and may indicate some catalyst crushing or coking from age
or an incident. 37 psi is not particularly alarming. This value should be
trended over time.
• The steam carbon ratio at 4.53 is a little high for most PSA-type units, but
would be common in older units using solvent CO 2 cleanup. It could
probably be lowered.
15. These calculations can be built into a spreadsheet, including the trial-anderror, iterative solution to the reformer outlet composition and material
balance closure. This would save a significant amount of time and enable
more detailed operations evaluation to be completed more often.
References
Steam-Methane Reforming
American Petroleum Institute, Recommended Practice 571 (RP-571), Common Refinery Damage
Mechanisms
Katalco Corporation (Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd.), Catalyst Handbook, with Special Reference
to Unit Processes in Ammonia and Hydrogen Manufacture, 1st edn. (Springer, New York, 1970)
H.W. Rasmussen, Haldor Topsoe, Inc., Hydrogen Plant Catalysts and Operation, Unpublished (2001)
J.R. Rostrup-Nielsen, Haldor Topsoe, Inc, Catalytic Steam Reforming (Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, 1984)
Partial Oxidation
Haldor Topsoe Inc., Brochure: Sulphur resistant/sour water-gas shift catalyst, www.topsoe.com.
Accessed Dec 2013
H. Heurich, C. Higman, Partial oxidation in the refinery hydrogen management scheme. Paper
presented to AIChE Spring Meeting, Houston, 30 Mar 1993 (1993)
Linde Engineering, Partial Oxidation information pages (2013), www.linde-engineering.com.
Accessed 17 Dec 2013
J.D. Marano, Gasification and Supporting Technologies, U. S. Department of Energy, National
Energy Technology Laboratory, Energy Information Administration (2003)
University of Malaysia Chemistry Department, Techniques for Hydrogen (Synthesis) Production,
http://kimia.um.edu.my/staff_new/sharifa_bee/2324/SCES2340_P3_Hydrogen_Synthesis_
041218.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec 2013
K. Wawrzinek, C. Keller, (Linde Engineering, 2007), Industrial hydrogen production and technology. Paper presented at Karlsruhe FuncHy-Workshop, 21 Nov 2007
Electrolytic Hydrogen
Hydrogen production article in Wikipedia (2013), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_produc
tion. Accessed 17 Dec 2013
646
S.A. Treese
reformers and may indicate some catalyst crushing or coking from age
or an incident. 37 psi is not particularly alarming. This value should be
trended over time.
• The steam carbon ratio at 4.53 is a little high for most PSA-type units, but
would be common in older units using solvent CO 2 cleanup. It could
probably be lowered.
15. These calculations can be built into a spreadsheet, including the trial-anderror, iterative solution to the reformer outlet composition and material
balance closure. This would save a significant amount of time and enable
more detailed operations evaluation to be completed more often.
References
Steam-Methane Reforming
American Petroleum Institute, Recommended Practice 571 (RP-571), Common Refinery Damage
Mechanisms
Katalco Corporation (Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd.), Catalyst Handbook, with Special Reference
to Unit Processes in Ammonia and Hydrogen Manufacture, 1st edn. (Springer, New York, 1970)
H.W. Rasmussen, Haldor Topsoe, Inc., Hydrogen Plant Catalysts and Operation, Unpublished (2001)
J.R. Rostrup-Nielsen, Haldor Topsoe, Inc, Catalytic Steam Reforming (Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, 1984)
Partial Oxidation
Haldor Topsoe Inc., Brochure: Sulphur resistant/sour water-gas shift catalyst, www.topsoe.com.
Accessed Dec 2013
H. Heurich, C. Higman, Partial oxidation in the refinery hydrogen management scheme. Paper
presented to AIChE Spring Meeting, Houston, 30 Mar 1993 (1993)
Linde Engineering, Partial Oxidation information pages (2013), www.linde-engineering.com.
Accessed 17 Dec 2013
J.D. Marano, Gasification and Supporting Technologies, U. S. Department of Energy, National
Energy Technology Laboratory, Energy Information Administration (2003)
University of Malaysia Chemistry Department, Techniques for Hydrogen (Synthesis) Production,
http://kimia.um.edu.my/staff_new/sharifa_bee/2324/SCES2340_P3_Hydrogen_Synthesis_
041218.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec 2013
K. Wawrzinek, C. Keller, (Linde Engineering, 2007), Industrial hydrogen production and technology. Paper presented at Karlsruhe FuncHy-Workshop, 21 Nov 2007
Electrolytic Hydrogen
Hydrogen production article in Wikipedia (2013), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_produc
tion. Accessed 17 Dec 2013
646
S.A. Treese