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Latest developments in ammonia production technology

installed as shown in Figurę 2, the primary reformer has to reform methane only, and at the same time at sulphur free conditions, because the prereforming catalyst will pick up any sulphur components in the feed quantitatively. The sulphur free operation is one of the reasons for allowing a much higher heat flux in the reformer.

The prereformed feed can be reheated to 650 °C before entering the primary reformer. This will result in reduced firing in the primary reformer, and thereby a reduced fuel consumption. When the hot flue gas is used to reheat the reformer feed, the amount of heat available for HP steam production is reduced. This will overall result in a reduced HP steam production in the ammonia plant.

In generał, the reformer size can be reduced up to 25% in a natural gas based plant by incorporating a prereformer.

3.2 HTER-p

Tubular reformer Secondary reformer    HTER-p

Figurę 3. HTER-p

Another feature that can be used to reduce the size of the primary reformer, and at the same time reduce the HP steam production, is the HTER-p (Haldor Topsoe Exchange Reformer). Please see Figurę 3. This is a new feature, initially developed for use in synthesis gas plants. In ammonia plants this unit is operated in parallel with the primary reformer, and that is why the name is HTER-p.

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