Optimised hydrogen production by steam reforming: part I

Abstract

Process optimization of a hydrogen plant was performed to minimize natural gas consumption by considering operating parameters, e.g., steam-to-carbon ratio, various reactor configurations, methane slip, choice of product purification step, and natural gas composition in a conventional steam methane reforming process. Natural gas offers greater advantages over other feedstocks for hydrogen production in terms of simplicity of use, operating cost, and capital cost. For economic production of hydrogen utilities, e.g., natural gas as feed, fuel and steam are the important parameters. However, steam export is important only when there is a need from other parts of the refinery. Thus, the overall objective should be to minimize natural gas consumption for the hydrogen plant. Hydrogen plant capacity, end use, and export steam requirement usually govern the selection of an optimum set of operating parameters for a new hydrogen plant.