Method for integrating ammonia cracking in a steam methane reformer

A method for producing hydrogen in an existing steam methane reformer (SMR) via ammonia cracking, the SMR comprising a furnace and a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit, wherein the furnace has a plurality of SMR tubes and a plurality of burners, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a gaseous stream consisting essentially of ammonia at a temperature of at least 100° C.;
• (b) routing the gaseous stream to the plurality of SMR tubes through feed piping or a feed distribution system, wherein internal surfaces of the feed piping or feed distribution system contacted by the gaseous stream include a nitridation-resistant material and/or a nitridation protective layer;
• (c) introducing the gaseous stream into the SMR tubes of the furnace under conditions effective for catalytically cracking the ammonia, thereby forming a crude stream comprising hydrogen, nitrogen, and unreacted ammonia;
• and
• (d) introducing the crude stream into the PSA unit to produce a hydrogen product stream and a PSA offgas.