TUBULAR REFORMING AND AUTOTHERMAL REFORMING OF NATURAL-GAS - AN OVERVIEW OF AVAILABLE PROCESSES

Tubular reforming and autothermal or secondary reforming of natural gas are the most important process steps in the production of synthesis gas. The paper reviews the state-of-the-art of the technologies with emphasis on new developments in equipment design, especially relating to the tubular reformer furnace and to the burner for the autothermal or secondary reformer. The chemical reactions are briefly described, and the various steam reforming processes - tubular, fired reforming, heat exchange reforming, and adiabatic pre-reforming - are reviewed. The difference between autothermal and secondary reforming and new developments in these process technologies are highlighted.