Corrosion-protected reformer tube with internal heat exchange

A reformer tube for converting a hydrocarbon-containing feed into a synthesis gas product comprising carbon oxides and hydrogen under steam reforming conditions, the reformer tube comprising:

• (a) an outer, pressurized shell tube, wherein the outer, pressurized shell tube is divided into a reaction chamber and an exit chamber by means of a separating tray and wherein the reaction chamber is externally heatable;
• (b) a dumped bed of a steam-reforming-active solid catalyst arranged in the reaction chamber;
• (c) an entry for an input gas stream comprising an input material arranged in the region of the reaction chamber, wherein the entry for the input gas stream is in fluid connection with the dumped catalyst bed;
• (d) at least one heat exchanger tube arranged inside the reaction chamber and inside the dumped catalyst bed whose entry end is in fluid connection with the catalyst bed and whose exit end is in fluid connection with the exit chamber, wherein the input gas stream after entry into the reaction chamber initially flows through the catalyst bed and subsequently flows through the heat exchanger tube in countercurrent and is thus continually cooled and wherein the heat exchanger tube is in a heat exchange relationship with the dumped catalyst bed and the input gas stream flowing therethrough;
• and
• (e) a collection conduit for the synthesis gas product which is in fluid connection with the exit chamber,
• wherein gas-contacted metallic components of the reformer tube are made of a nickel-based alloy, wherein each gas-contacted metallic component has a gas-contacted surface, wherein the gas-contacted surfaces having a temperature during operation under defined steam reforming conditions of between 650° C. and 800° C. are equipped with an aluminum diffusion layer that is configured to retard corrosion of the gas-contacted surfaces.