Monotube pilot

Table 2.6 shows examples of combined steam and CO2 reforming demonstration in a full-size monotube pilot plant (Figure 3.6) or in industry [521]. The CO production per fired fuel (duty) in the reformer is compared. 

The Topsoe reforming technology was pioneered in a fiill-size monotube pilot plant during the 1960s as shown in Figure 3.2. The plant was running on naphtha. 

Recorded temperature profiles from the monotube pilot plant in Figure 3.6 are shown in Figure 3.8 [393]. The simulation uses the two-dimensional homogeneous model using the outer tube-wall temperature... 

Below results from experiments in the monotube pilot plant in Figure 3.6 are discussed. The process was operating at ordinary syngas conditions for an ammonia plant. The load varied between half and full load, and catalyst particles with different hole fi actions but identical outer dimensions were used [119]. The particles have the same length as diameter and relatively small hole fi-actions. The particle sizes are shown in Table 3.1 below ... 

Figure 5.49 Sulphur passivated reforming. Dibbem et al. [152], Axial temperature from full-size monotube pilot plant H2O/NG=0.96 mol/carbon. CO2/NG=0.64 mol/C-atom, P=7 bar abs. Reproduced with the permission of Gulf Publishing.

As a consequence, one should rather, on the one hand, perform experiments which have been planned to achieve a full understanding of the catalyst system by means of gradientless measurements, and on the other hand perform experiments in a full-size monotube pilot plant, specially planned to provide the best possible design data. 

Figure 6. Measured and Calculated Axial and Radial Temperature Profiles. Topsoe Monotube Steam Reformer Pilot Data. Temperature approaches are shown for CH4-reforming (reaction (1)) and CH4-deposition (reaction (8)). If aT (1) > aT (8), there is not potential for carbon formation. This should be fulfilled at any position in the tube.

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