AM-97-18 MEDIUM SIZE HYDROGEN SUPPLY USING THE TOPSOE CONVECTION REFORMER

Description:

Petroleum refining is the fastest growing field for hydrogen consumption. The main reasons for the increasing refinery demand for hydrogen are: l The increasing need for processing of heavy crude oils with high sulphur contents, which requires higher specific hydrogen consumption for hydroprocessing and hydrocracking. l The environmental regulations, i.e. the Clean Air Act Amendments in the US, setting standards for reduced aromatics content in reformulated gasoline (thus reducing the hydrogen by-product production from the catalytic reforming) and for reduced sulphur (and aromatics content in certain geographical areas) in diesel oil. l The continuous increase in the production of transportation fuels with resulting higher H/C ratio in the total product. Today, more than half of the hydrogen used for refining is recovered from refinery by-product streams, mostly from catalytic reformer units (platformers). The remainder is supplied from onpurpose hydrogen plants or by recovery from other hydrogen-rich refinery streams. Steam reforming of natural gas is the predominant method of hydrogen production worldwide, although steam reforming of heavier feedstocks like LPG, refinery off-gas, and naphtha is common, particularly in parts of Asia but also in some parts of the western hemisphere, due to the limited availability and relatively high cost of natural gas. Non-catalytic partial oxidation is also used to some degree due to the flexibility to operate on “less costly” feedstocks like heavy oil or petroleum coke. Large on-purpose hydrogen plants in refineries are most often built and operated by the refineries to match the demand of large hydrogen consumers such as hydrocracking and resid desulphurization processes. However, a significant amount of hydrogen is today supplied by industrial gas companies: - from on-site plants (Hz plants built on or adjacent to customer locations, owned and operated by the industrial gas company) or - from multiple source, multiple customer pipeline networks (regional hydrogen pipelines) which supply a number of customers located along the pipeline and are fed by one or more hydrogen plants owned and operated by the industrial gas company This alternative source of hydrogen, supplied “over-the-fence” to the refiners, is increasing strongly. This may be seen as an example of the general tendency towards “outsourcing” of activities which are not considered within the core business areas of the refiner, and further of the refiner’s preference of having a third party investing in the hydrogen plant. Air Liquide is an industrial gas company with extensive experience in over-the-fence hydrogen supply. Haldor Topsoe A/S is a supplier of technology for chemical and petrochemical plants including plants for production of hydrogen. The two companies have recently formed a strategic alliance to the effect that Air Liquide will utilize Topsoe’s reforming technologies worldwide in plants to supply hydrogen, carbon monoxide and synthesis gas to its customers. In addition, they are developing together innovative solutions to address medium-size over-the-fence hydrogen supplies which are/will be representing an important share of the additional hydrogen demand for refining.