Steam methane reforming with process carbon dioxide capture and ammonia firing

An apparatus for producing hydrogen in a steam methane reformer with reduced carbon emissions, the apparatus comprising a first heat exchanger, a reaction zone, a shift conversion unit, a hydrogen purification unit, and a CO2 removal unit, the apparatus being configured to operate in a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, wherein during both modes of operation, the apparatus is configured to:

• a) heat a feed stream comprising methane in the first heat exchanger to produce a heated feed stream, wherein the heated feed stream is at a temperature above 500° C.;
• b) introduce the heated feed stream into the reaction zone under conditions effective for catalytically cracking the heated feed stream to produce reformed stream, wherein the reformed stream comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and unreacted methane;
• c) introducing the reformed stream in the presence of steam to the shift conversion unit that is configured to produce a shifted gas stream comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide;
• d) purifying the shifted gas stream in the hydrogen purification unit to produce a hydrogen product stream and a tail gas;
• and
• e) removing carbon dioxide, using the CO2 removal unit, from a stream selected from the group consisting of a first stream, a second stream, and combinations thereof, wherein the first stream is the shifted gas stream, wherein the second stream is the tail gas,
• wherein the conditions effective for catalytically cracking the heated feed stream comprise providing heat to the reaction zone via combustion of a fuel and a hydrogen fuel stream in the presence of an oxidizer, wherein the hydrogen fuel stream comprises at least a first portion of the tail gas,
• wherein a flue gas is produced by the combustion of the fuel and the hydrogen fuel stream,
• wherein during the first mode of operation, the fuel comprises a hydrocarbon,
• wherein during the second mode of operation, the apparatus is in fluid communication with an ammonia source such that the fuel comprises ammonia,
• wherein the flue gas produced by the second mode of operation comprises less carbon dioxide than the flue gas produced by the first mode of operation.