METHOD FOR OPERATING A STEAM REFORMING PLANT

摘要

A method for operating a steam reforming plant wherein a hydrocarbon-rich feed is reacted with steam to form synthesis gas. The plant includes a steam reforming reactor and processing units to obtain a hydrogen-rich fraction after separation of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The plant also includes a pressure-swing adsorption plant to separate the hydrogen-rich fraction into product and residual gas. A recycle compressor is included and allows the plant to operate is two different modes. In the first mode, carbon dioxide separated from the synthesis gas is compressed and added to the hydrocarbon-rich feed. In the second mode, the recycle compressor is used to recycle residual gas from the pressure-swing adsorption plant to the hydrogen-rich fraction upstream of the pressure-swing adsorption plant.

主权项

1. A method for operating a steam reforming plant, the steam reforming plant comprising:
at least on steam reforming reactor for reacting a hydrocarbon-rich feed with steam to form synthesis gas; at least one processing unit for separating carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from the synthesis gas to form a hydrogen-rich fraction; at least one pressure-swing adsorption plant for separating a residual gas from the hydrogen-rich fraction; and at least one recycle compressor;wherein the method comprises:
operating the steam reforming plant in a first mode of operation comprising recycling at least a part of the carbon dioxide separated from the synthesis gas to the hydrocarbon-rich feed using the recycle compressor; and operating the steam reforming plant in a second mode of operation comprising recycling at least a part of the residual gas separated from the hydrogen-rich fraction to the hydrogen-rich fraction upstream of the pressure-swing adsorption plant using the recycle compressor.