Method for operating a reformer oven and a reformer installation

A method for producing a synthesis-gas product gas and at least one product vapor stream, the method comprising:

• catalytic steam reforming a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a steam reformer with variable production capacity of the synthesis-gas product gas so as to form the synthesis-gas product gas and the at least one product vapor stream, the steam reformer including a plurality of catalyst-containing reformer tubes and a reformer furnace with burners for firing the reformer tubes;
• cooling the hot synthesis-gas product gas stream in at least one heat exchanger by indirect heat exchange against a stream of water so as to form a cooled synthesis-gas product gas stream and a first partial vapor stream;
• and
• supplying the first partial vapor stream to the product vapor stream,
• wherein the reforming furnace is operated so as to include the following steps:
• (a) supplying a burner feedstock including fuel, combustion air and at least one flue gas recirculation stream to the reformer furnace,
• (b) burning the burner feedstock in the burners so as to form a hot flue gas stream,
• (c) cooling the hot flue gas stream in at least one heat exchanger by indirect heat exchange against a stream of water so as to form a cooled flue gas stream and a second partial vapor stream which is supplied to the product vapor stream,
• (d) separating the cooled flue gas stream into a flue gas waste gas stream and at least one flue gas recirculation stream, the flue gas recirculation stream being recirculated to step (a), and
• increasing a mass flow of the recirculated flue gas with decreasing mass flow of the synthesis-gas product gas so as to obtain an at least approximately constant product vapor stream by increasing the second partial vapor stream.

A method for producing a synthesis-gas product gas and at least one product vapor stream, the method comprising:

• catalytic steam reforming a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a steam reformer so as to form the synthesis-gas product gas and the at least one product vapor stream, the steam reformer including a plurality of catalyst-containing reformer tubes and a reformer furnace with burners for firing the reformer tubes;
• cooling the hot synthesis-gas product gas stream in at least one heat exchanger by indirect heat exchange against a stream of water so as to form a cooled synthesis-gas product gas stream and a first partial vapor stream;
• and
• supplying the first partial vapor stream to the product vapor stream,
• wherein the reforming furnace is operated so as to include the following steps:
• (a) supplying a burner feedstock including fuel, combustion air and at least one flue gas recirculation stream to the reformer furnace,
• (b) burning the burner feedstock in the burners so as to form a hot flue gas stream,
• (c) cooling the hot flue gas stream in at least one heat exchanger by indirect heat exchange against a stream of water so as to form a cooled flue gas stream and a second partial vapor stream which is supplied to the product vapor stream,
• (d) separating the cooled flue gas stream into a flue gas waste gas stream and at least one flue gas recirculation stream, the flue gas recirculation stream being recirculated to step (a), and
• decreasing a mass flow of the recirculated flue gas with a constant mass flow of the synthesis-gas product gas so as to obtain a decreased product vapor stream by decreasing the second partial vapor stream.

A method for producing a synthesis-gas product gas and at least one product vapor stream, the method comprising:

• catalytic steam reforming a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a steam reformer so as to form the synthesis-gas product gas and the at least one product vapor stream, the steam reformer including a plurality of catalyst-containing reformer tubes and a reformer furnace with burners for firing the reformer tubes;
• cooling the hot synthesis-gas product gas stream in at least one heat exchanger by indirect heat exchange against a stream of water so as to form a cooled synthesis-gas product gas stream and a first partial vapor stream;
• and
• supplying the first partial vapor stream to the product vapor stream,
• wherein the reforming furnace is operated so as to include the following steps:
• (a) supplying a burner feedstock including fuel, combustion air and at least one flue gas recirculation stream to the reformer furnace,
• (b) burning the burner feedstock in the burners so as to form a hot flue gas stream,
• (c) cooling the hot flue gas stream in at least one heat exchanger by indirect heat exchange against a stream of water so as to form a cooled flue gas stream and a second partial vapor stream which is supplied to the product vapor stream,
• (d) separating the cooled flue gas stream into a flue gas waste gas stream and at least one flue gas recirculation stream, the flue gas recirculation stream being recirculated to step (a), and
• increasing a mass flow of the recirculated flue gas with a constant mass flow of the synthesis-gas product gas so as to obtain an increased product vapor stream by increasing the second partial vapor stream.

A plant for carrying out a method of producing a synthesis-gas product gas and at least one product vapor stream, the plant comprising:

• a reformer furnace with burners and a plurality of catalyst-containing reformer tubes;
• at least one heat exchanger for cooling a hot synthesis-gas product gas stream by indirect heat exchange against a stream of water by forming a cooled hot synthesis-gas product gas stream and a first partial vapor stream;
• a measuring device for measuring a mass flow of the synthesis-gas product gas;
• at least one heat exchanger for cooling a hot flue gas stream by indirect heat exchange against a stream of water by forming a cooled flue gas stream and a second partial vapor stream;
• a measuring device for measuring a mass flow of the recirculated flue gas;
• a measuring device for measuring a product vapor mass flow;
• and
• a conveying device with adjustable conveying capacity for recirculating the flue gas recirculation stream to the reformer furnace, the conveying device being configured to at least one of:
• increase the mass flow of the recirculated flue gas with decreasing mass flow of the synthesis-gas product gas so as to obtain an at least approximately constant product vapor stream by increasing the second partial vapor stream,
• decrease the mass flow of the recirculated flue gas with a constant mass flow of the synthesis-gas product gas so as to obtain a decreased product vapor stream by decreasing the second partial vapor stream, and
• increase the mass flow of the recirculated flue gas with a constant mass flow of the synthesis-gas product gas so as to obtain an increased product vapor stream by increasing the second partial vapor stream.