Natural gas conversion to hydrogen
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Experts, for a 10,000 m3/h natural gas-to-hydrogen conversion plant, which type of conversion furnace is preferably used (top-fired furnace, side-fired furnace, stepped furnace, bottom-fired furnace)?
Heat is applied at the top of the furnace and transferred, causing localized heating of the furnace tubes. Does it have a significant impact on the service life of the catalyst and furnace tubes? What is the typical maximum temperature designed for furnace tubes, and what temperature margin should be left?
Firstly, there is no localized heating in the furnace tube; the greater the temperature difference between the temperature entering the furnace tube and the furnace temperature, the greater the heat exchange amount. The heat absorption during the catalyst reaction occurs mainly in the middle and upper regions; therefore, top burning and top feeding are common approaches. The maximum temperature of the furnace tubes should be 1000, while during normal operation, the temperature of the furnace tubes is kept at most at 850. Exceeding this limit will cause creep deformation of the furnace tube. Of course, the stepped type is also used, but this format is less common in China. The main reason is that the equipment is relatively complex, but its energy consumption is lower than that of other systems. The convection section is located at the top of the furnace, with the chimney atop this convection section; there are no blowers or exhaust fans, which reduces electricity consumption.