Method for the preparation of synthesis gas combining electrolysis of carbon dioxide, autothermal reforming and 5 optionally tubular steam reforming of a hydrocarbon feed stock.

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of starting a fuel reformer including a heating element and a subsequent autothermal reformer includes contacting a first fluid comprising oxygen with the heating element, passing the first fluid into the autothermal reformer to preheat a reformer catalyst within the autothermal reformer to a first temperature, reducing flow of the first fluid into the autothermal reformer, introducing a fuel into the autothermal reformer subsequent to preheating the reformer catalyst to initiate a partial oxidation reaction and generating additional heat, increasing flow of the fuel and first fluid to initiate autothermal reforming, and controlling the temperature of the reformer catalyst by supplying a cooling fluid, the first fluid, and the fuel and adjusting flow of each.

A process for the synthesis of ammonia from a hydrocarbon feedstock, wherein the process includes reforming the hydrocarbon feedstock to produce a make-up gas and converting said make-up gas into ammonia, the process is performed in an ammonia synthesis plant requiring an electric power for operation and also requiring a start-up power (Ps) for start-up, wherein a first electric power (P1) is internally produced in the ammonia plant, and a second electric power (P2) is imported, wherein said second electric power is equal to or greater than said start-up power (Ps).

A method for increasing the carbon utilisation of a synthesis gas plant is provided, as well as a synthesis gas plant arranged to perform said method. Various gas streams can be combined and recycled to allow for efficient use of a natural gas feedstock.

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of starting a fuel reformer including a heating element and a subsequent autothermal reformer includes contacting a first fluid comprising oxygen with the heating element, passing the first fluid into the autothermal reformer to preheat a reformer catalyst within the autothermal reformer to a first temperature, reducing flow of the first fluid into the autothermal reformer, introducing a fuel into the autothermal reformer subsequent to preheating the reformer catalyst to initiate a partial oxidation reaction and generating additional heat, increasing flow of the fuel and first fluid to initiate autothermal reforming, and controlling the temperature of the reformer catalyst by supplying a cooling fluid, the first fluid, and the fuel and adjusting flow of each.

A method for producing synthesis gas may involve introducing a hydrocarbon-containing coke-oven gas and a carbon dioxide-containing converter gas into a first reaction zone where hydrogen present in the hydrocarbon-containing coke-oven gas reacts at least partly with carbon dioxide to form water, which reacts thermally with hydrocarbon to form synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The method may further involve introducing an oxygen-containing gas in a second reaction zone, and using the oxygen-containing gas and some hydrogen from the first reaction zone to produce thermal energy. Still further, the method may involve supplying the thermal energy produced in the second reaction zone to the first reaction zone.

The invention relates to a process for the start-up of an autothermal reformer, wherein syngas is produced in the autothermal reformer during start-up through steam reforming. To facilitate autoignition in the autothermal reformer reactor of the autothermal reformer, the reformed syngas is recycled to an upstream section of the autothermal reformer reactor and is mixed with process steam and a hydrocarbon containing process stream. As soon as a minimum hydrogen threshold concentration at the upstream section of the autothermal reformer reactor is reached in the mixed process stream, oxygen is added to the burner of the ATR reactor to obtain autoignition of the mixed process stream. Due to the process of the invention, an external hydrogen source for facilitating autoignition of the mixed stream can be omitted. The invention further relates to a plant configured to carry out the process of the invention.

A synthesis process comprising steam reforming a gaseous hydrocarbon feedstock; exothermically reacting the resulting synthesis gas; removing heat from said exothermal reaction by producing steam; using said steam as heat input to the steam reforming, wherein the steam reforming comprises: a) forming a mixture containing steam and hydrocarbons by at least the step of adding a first stream of water to the hydrocarbon feedstock; b) heating said mixture by indirect heat exchange with synthesis gas; c) reforming said mixture after said heating step b).

An ammonia production plant includes an ammonia synthesis facility; a synthesis gas generating facility which generates a synthesis gas for synthesizing ammonia from the carbon-based raw material; and a power generating facility which obtains power. The synthesis gas generating facility includes an exhaust heat recovery unit which recovers exhaust heat. The power generating facility includes a combustion device which burns oxygen and fuel and a gas turbine which is driven by using a combustion gas containing a CO.sub.2 gas obtained by the combustion device as power so as to generate power and is configured to supply the CO.sub.2 gas discharged from the gas turbine as a recycle gas to the combustion device. The power obtained by the power generating facility powers the ammonia synthesis facility. The exhaust heat recovered by the exhaust heat recovery unit is used to heat the recycle gas.

A process for producing ammonia make-up synthesis gas and a procedure for revamping a front-end of an ammonia plant for producing ammonia make-up synthesis gas are disclosed, wherein the make-up synthesis gas is produced by means of steam reforming of a hydrocarbon gaseous feedstock; said front-end includes a primary reformer, a secondary reformer, a shift conversion section, a CO2 removal section and optionally a methanation section; a shell-and-tube gas-heated reformer is installed after said secondary reformer, and a portion of the available feedstock is reformed in the tubes of said gas-heated reformer, and heat is provided to the shell side of said gas-heated reformer by at least a portion of product gas leaving the secondary reformer, possibly mixed with product gas leaving the tubes of said gas-heated reformer.