| 主权项 |
1. A Heat Exchange Reformer (HER) arranged to be part of a synthesis gas production unit, said synthesis gas production unit comprising a Main Reforming Unit (MRU) and said Heat Exchange Reformer (HER), wherein in operation the effluent from the MRU is arranged so as to provide heat to the HER, and wherein a hydrocarbon feedstock is arranged so as to pass in parallel through both the MRU and the HER, thus providing:
a. an MRU hydrocarbon feed having an MRU steam-to-carbon ratio (MRUS/C), an effluent outlet temperature (TMRU) and a MRU hydrocarbon flow rate (FMRU) and b. an HER hydrocarbon feed having an HER steam-to-carbon ratio (HERS/C) and an HER hydrocarbon flow rate (FHER), wherein said Heat Exchange Reformer comprises a first metal and a second metal, in that:
at a distance greater than a distance (A) from the inlet of the HER, the HER is of a first metal having a higher resistance to metal dusting; andat a distance less than said distance (A) from the inlet of the HER, the HER is of a second metal which has a lower resistance to metal dusting than said first metal,wherein said distance A is determined from said temperature profile within the HER varying with the distance from the inlet of the HER as a function of the ratio of FHER/FMRU, the MRU outlet temperature (TMRU), the MRU steam-to-carbon ratio (MRUS/C), the HER steam-to-carbon ratio (HERS/C) and the total hydrocarbon flow rate (FMRU+FHER); and wherein the distance (A) is as a distance (A) at which metal dusting is not significant. |
