Simulation of Secondary Reformer in Industrial Ammonia Plant

Abstract

In order to develop a reactor design model for the secondary reformer in the industrial ammonia plant, the effectiveness factor and convection heat transfer coefficient between gas and catalyst surface have been studied. The temperature and composition of inlet gas to the catalyst bed are predicted using the kinetic equations of 32 radical reactions. The effect of oxygen content in air on the product synthesis gas composition and the ratio of synthesis gas to nitrogen have been studied. The effectiveness factor has been calculated with the assumption that the steam methane reforming reaction is first order in methane partial pressure. The catalyst shape is assumed to be spherical with an equivalent volumetric diameter. The temperature and composition profiles along the axial distance are predicted using a one-dimensional heterogeneous catalytic reaction model. The temperatures of both gas and catalyst surface decreased with the axial distance from the top of the bed, while the reactions took place. The temperature difference between gas and catalyst surface also decreased along the axial distance. The predicted temperature and composition by the proposed simulation method have been verified with the data from the industrial plant.