Primary reformer Furnace design

Exxon Chemical Process. The Exxon Chemical process [1092], [1093] was specifically designed for the company s own site in Canada and so far not built for third parties. It uses a proprietary bottom-fired primary reformer furnace and a proprietary hot potash carbon dioxide removal system with a sterically hindered amine activator. Synthesis loop and converter are licensed by Haldor Topsoe A/S. Synthesis is carried out at 140 bar in a Topsoe S-200 converter and total energy consumption is reported to be 29 GJ/t NH3. 

The PNP-3000 reactor plant was designed for the generation of process heat for a steam reformer (1071 MW) and of electricity with 540 °C / 19.5 MPa turbine steam (1929 MW). The helium coolant is heated up from 250 to 950 °C at a primary system pressure of 4 MPa. Nuclear power density is 5 MW/m. Four (or more) loops are connected to the reactor either one with circulator, steam generator plus two steam reformers. Eight steam reforming furnaces are to be operated at 825 °C with a methane conversion of about 65 % [69]. 

Tubes are made either of chromium-nickel or chromium-niobium alloys, and they are expected to last at least for 100,000 hours (more than eleven years). The latest primary reformer designs have dispensed with the furnace altogether, and the process is heated by gases from the secondary reformer. The reforming reaction is always the same... 

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