REFORMATE PREHEAT OF ATR REACTANTS

摘要

Method of operating an autothermal reformer (ATR) (2) to produce a high temperature reformate (10) including preheating steam (8) and air (6) inputs to the ATR (2) with heat from the reformate (10). The steam (8) is heated by the reformate (10) and the air (6) is then heated by the steam (8). There is no direct heat exchange between the reformate (10) and the air (6). In the heat exchangers ((12),(14),and(16)) effecting the heat transfer, the steam is kept at a higher pressure than both the reformate (10) and the air (6).