Method and device for producing ammonia or hydrogen and use of the device

A process for producing ammonia or hydrogen, the process comprising:

• providing an apparatus comprising:
• a gas stream feed conduit that includes a downstream connecting conduit to a steam reformer having a waste heat section, wherein a heat exchanger and a gas stream preheater are disposed between the gas stream feed conduit and the downstream connecting conduit,
• the heat exchanger disposed downstream of the gas stream feed conduit and outside the waste heat section,
• the gas stream preheater located downstream of the heat exchanger,
• a recirculation conduit leadings to the gas stream feed conduit and the downstream connecting conduit leadings to the steam reformer, wherein the recirculation circuit and downstream connecting circuit are disposed downstream of the gas stream preheater;
• and
• the steam reformer with the waste heat section, where the waste heat section is in thermal contact with the gas stream preheater and a flow of a gas stream that has been heated in the gas stream preheater through the recirculation conduit is configured to be regulated;
• operating the steam reformer and heating the gas stream preheater;
• introducing the gas stream into the gas stream preheater via the gas stream feed conduit to heat the gas stream;
• and
• introducing at least part of the gas stream that has been heated in the gas stream preheater via the recirculation conduit and the gas stream feed conduit into the heat exchanger to heat the heat exchanger.

A method comprising:

• providing an apparatus comprising:
• a gas stream feed conduit that includes a downstream connecting conduit to a steam reformer having a waste heat section, wherein a heat exchanger and a gas stream preheater are disposed between the gas stream feed conduit and the downstream connecting conduit;
• the heat exchanger disposed downstream of the gas stream feed conduit and outside the waste heat section;
• the gas stream preheater located downstream of the heat exchanger;
• a recirculation conduit leading to the gas stream feed conduit and the downstream connecting conduit leading to the steam reformer, wherein the recirculation circuit and downstream connecting circuit are disposed downstream of the gas stream preheater;
• and
• the steam reformer with the waste heat section, where the waste heat section is in thermal contact with the gas stream preheater and a flow of the gas stream that has been heated in the gas stream preheater through the recirculation conduit is configured to be regulated;
• and
• introducing a gas stream into the heat exchanger where the temperature of the gas stream is in a range of −50° C. to +5° C.