Method for heating a feed of natural gas to a steam reformer and system and use thereof

• Main Author: SINGH, Udaypal
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.04.2023
• Subjects: AMMONIA; CHEMISTRY; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; CYANOGEN; INORGANIC CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS

The present disclosure relates to a method for heating a feed of natural gas (1), used as feed for a steam reformer (19) of an ammonia production system (39), wherein the system comprises a steam reformer (19), operably connected to a heat recovery unit (3) comprising at least two heating coils (4, 5) maintained at a different temperature, wherein the feed of natural gas (1) passes through the at least two heating coils (4) and (5). The method comprises the steps of: a) recovering heat in the heat recovery unit (3) from the ammonia production system (39) and b) exchanging at least part of the heat recovered in step a) with at least a portion of the feed of natural gas (1), thereby obtaining a heated feed of natural gas (10), wherein the feed of natural gas (1) does not comprise steam. The method is further characterised in that the heat recovered in step a) is heat recovered from flue gas (2) produced in the steam reformer (19) and step b) comprises the consecutive steps of b1) heating the feed of natural gas (1) from a temperature ranging from 10 °C to 40 °C to a temperature ranging from 180 °C to 210 °C upon contacting the feed (1) with a first heating coil (4) of the heat recovery unit (3), thereby obtaining a pre-heated feed of natural gas (9); and; b2) subsequently further heating the heated feed of natural gas (9) from step b1) to a temperature ranging from 360 °C to 380 °C upon contacting the feed (9) with a second heating coil (5) of the heat recovery unit (3), thereby obtaining the heated feed of natural gas (10). The present disclosure further relates to a system for heating the feed of natural gas (1), used as feed for the steam reformer (19) of the ammonia production system, and to the use of the system of the disclosure for performing the method of the disclosure.