Bottom-Fired Steam Reformer Tube Accessibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional steam reformers with burners installed in the roof of the housing face issues with accessibility and maintenance due to the arrangement of educt and product gas conduits, which impede the exchange of reformer tubes and increase heat losses.

Innovation Solution

A steam reformer design with burners installed in the bottom of the combustion chamber, where catalyst tubes protrude through the bottom and ceiling, allowing educt and product gas conduits to be positioned below, facilitating easier maintenance and reducing heat losses by optimizing conduit paths and waste gas discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If educt and product gas conduits are arranged on the roof of the reformer housing, then the steam reforming process can be carried out, but the accessibility of reformer tubes is impaired and maintenance becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of reformer tubesVSAvoidconduit arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by moving the burners to the bottom of the housing instead of the roof. This inversion allows educt gas conduits to be fed from below and product gas conduits to discharge at the bottom, freeing the roof for maintenance access and tube exchange operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the spatial dimension of conduit arrangements by extending educt gas conduits and collecting conduits below the bottom of the combustion chamber. This vertical dimensionality change allows conduits to be positioned out of the way while maintaining functional connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of energy

If product gases are discharged at the bottom of the housing, then heat losses in conduits are minimized, but the installation of waste heat boiler becomes constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat losses in conduitVSAvoidinstallation of waste heat boiler

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the waste heat recovery system by providing multiple separate discharge conduits for product gases at different locations (bottom and side walls). This segmentation allows flexible connection to waste heat boilers and enables heat recovery without requiring a single fixed installation point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of repair

If burners are installed in the roof of the housing, then the steam reforming process can be carried out, but accessibility for burner maintenance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for burner maintenanceVSAvoidburner installation position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional burner installation by placing burners at the bottom of the housing instead of the roof. This provides easy accessibility for burner maintenance, fuel gas supply connection, and air supply connection while maintaining effective heating of the reformer tubes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enhances accessibility, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes heat losses, while allowing for efficient heat recovery and reduced risk of metal-dusting corrosion, resulting in a more economical and maintainable steam reforming process.

Implementation Method 1

burners (6) aligned such that their flames (7) are directed vertically upwards into the reformer housing (2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

catalyst tubes with integrated recirculation of the product gas... integrated heat exchange between the educt gases and the product gases

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

Steam reformers for the conversion of gaseous hydrocarbons with steam into synthesis gas chiefly consisting of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSteam reformation: Endothermic Reaction

Data Source

PatentUS10807867B2Steam reformer for producing synthesis gas

Publication Date: 2020.10.20 LAIR LIQUIDE SA POUR LETUDE & LEXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE

AI summary

A steam reformer, comprising a combustion chamber, catalyst tubes arranged in several rows, feed conduits for the educt gas, which extend below the bottom of the combustion chamber, burners for heating the catalyst tubes which are installed in the bottom of the combustion chamber and are directed vertically upwards into the combustion chamber, feed conduits extending below the bottom of the combustion chamber, each for supplying the air and the fuel gas to the burners, openings installed in the ceiling of the combustion chamber for discharging the burner waste gas, and channels extending above the ceiling of the combustion chamber for discharging the burner waste gas.