Development of Process and Pressure

The key elements of the front end are the primary reformer, which can be described as a set of catalyst-fiDed tubes being arranged in a fired box, and the secondary (autothermal) reformer, where air is fed to the process for further heating and simultaneous introduction of nitrogen. Maximum temperatures of more than 1000 °C are reached. It has to be noted, however, that there is a variety of different front end processes available from different licensors. These include processes with deviating duty allocation for primary and secondary reformer as well as systems with process gas heated reformers and different solutions for carbon dioxide removal and synthesis gas purification.  

1) For example, Braun purifier process and AMV process (ICI) — bodi wifii increased duty of secondary reformer. 

2) For example, advanced Gas Heated J eformer (Johnson Matdiey), Kello J eforming Exchanger System and Combined Aitothermal Jieformer (Uhde). 

3) For example, Benfield process (UOP) and aMDEA process (BASF). 

The front-end product is a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen, typically contaminated with some inert gases like methane and argon, but virtually free of catalyst poisons. In the next step, the so-called synthesis gas is routed to the synthesis gas compressor. The compressor is the bridging element in between the medium pressure front end and the high-pressure synthesis loop. It is a key equipment of the ammonia process. Further details and steps in development will be summarized in Section 3.2.4. 

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