Cylindrical reformer furnace

The cost of production for a steam methane reformer to produce 5 MMS-CFD of high purity hydrogen is shown in Table 4. This estimate is based on a cylindrical reformer furnace using a hydrogen PSA for hydrogen separation and purification. Capital cost is third-quarter 1996, US Gulf Coast [8]. 

One vendor states that they provide a down-flow, down-fired, box-type reformer furnace design for capacities above 10 million SCFD of dry synthesis gas. They provide a cylindrical-type reformer furnace design for capacities below 9 to 10 million SCFD of dry synthesis gas167. 

As such, the reactor tube is a cylindrical vessel exposed to significant internal pressure and stress and temperature G)oth inside and outside the reactor tube). The high temperature reactor tubes present in the steam-reforming furnace are the most critical in terms of design and overall plant economics and require, therefore, a separate discussion. The materials used in the other lower temperature reactors in the synthesis gas production process are much less critical. 

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