Steam Methane Reforming SMR Technologies

Steam-methane reformers generate the majority of the world s on-purpose hydrogen. A steam-methane reformer (SMR) is a fired heater with catalyst-filled tubes. Hydrocarbon feedstock and steam react over the catalyst to produce hydrogen. The reacted process gas typically exits the reformer at about 1600°F The flue gas leaving the reformer radiant section is typically about1900°F. 

The flue gas at 1900°F must then be cooled to about 300°F to achieve efficient heat recovery. This heat is recovered in the convection section of the SMR. The process gas at 1600°F must then be cooled to about 100°F before final product purification. 

---

The steam methane reforming (SMR) technology is the major route to industry s production of merchant H2 on a worldwide scale. This is a very endothermic reaction (eqn (15.10)) that operates at 800 °C and at 20 bar pressure in order to achieve near equilibrium conversions and to meet the customers need for high pressure H2. 

---