Variable Smoke Gas Flow Primary Reformer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional catalytic reforming systems face challenges in maintaining optimal lambda values and reducing nitrogen oxide formation, especially during part-load operations, leading to increased heating gas consumption and nitrogen oxide emissions.

Innovation Solution

The system incorporates a cracked tube reactor with series burners and ceramic flue gas tunnels, where preheated additional gas containing oxygen and a non-combustible gas is introduced into the flue gas tunnels to regulate air flow and optimize lambda values, reducing nitrogen oxide formation and enhancing heat utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional burners are used with fixed air supply, then the system structure is simple, but the lambda value cannot be optimized and nitrogen oxide formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenitrogen oxide formationVSAvoidair supply control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of air supply to burners through adjustable flow control elements, allowing the air/heating gas ratio to be optimized in real-time. This enables the system to adapt to varying operating conditions and maintain optimal lambda values, thereby reducing nitrogen oxide formation while managing the increased operational complexity through automated or manually adjustable controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If excess air is increased to meet heat transfer requirements during part-load operation, then heat transfer is improved, but nitrogen oxide formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidnitrogen oxide emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the air supply system into separate channels for each burner, allowing independent control of air flow to each burning zone. This segmentation enables precise optimization of the air/heating gas ratio at each burner, preventing excessive air intake that would increase nitrogen oxide formation, while still ensuring adequate heat transfer through coordinated control of individual burner air supplies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs adjustable flow control elements that can modify the air supply parameter dynamically. By changing the air flow rate parameter in response to operating conditions, the system maintains optimal lambda values during part-load operation, achieving both efficient heat transfer and reduced nitrogen oxide emissions through parameter optimization rather than relying on fixed excess air levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the air supply is increased to compensate for fuel changes, then combustion is maintained, but the system becomes difficult to adjust and nitrogen oxide formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion stabilityVSAvoidfuel switching capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control mechanisms that monitor combustion parameters and automatically adjust air supply accordingly. When fuel changes occur, the system detects the change and modifies the air/heating gas ratio to maintain optimal combustion conditions. This feedback approach ensures combustion stability across different fuels while improving adaptability through automated adjustment rather than requiring manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 configuration allows for independent control of lambda values and flue gas amounts, minimizing nitrogen oxide emissions and optimizing heat transfer, even during part-load operations, making the system more environmentally friendly and economically viable.

Implementation Method 1

The burners used to fire the furnace chamber are usually fed with heating gas and air via separate channels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

heats the furnace space with the reforming tubes leading through it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

on the front side of each individual flue gas tunnel in the direction of flow of the extracted flue gases has supply devices for an additional gas... which are provided with heat exchangers for heat recovery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

reactors for the catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons with steam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 5

the catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons with steam to synthesis gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSteam reforming:

Data Source

PatentEP2445830B1Primary reformer having variable smoke gas flow
Publication Date: 2016.01.27 THYSSENKRUPP IND SOLUTIONS AG
  • EP2445830B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2445830B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2445830B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for catalytic primary reforming of hydrocarbons using water steam under increased pressure by means of a reactor according to claim 1, comprising a vertical can system and a combustion chamber, wherein hydrocarbons to be reformed are converted to syngas by means of water steam in the vertical can system, said system being filled with a catalyst material, wherein the vertical can system is heated up by means of a plurality of burner devices, each disposed between the vertical cans and made of a plurality of burners disposed in series, wherein the burners can generate flames directed substantially downward, each of the burner devices are fed with heating gas and air, wherein the air is drawn from inlets and the resulting smoke gas permeates the combustion chamber from the top to the bottom and enters substantially horizontally disposed smoke gas tunnels made of ceramic material and running parallel to each other and perpendicular to the vertical cans and each associated with one burner device through openings in the side walls of the smoke gas tunnels at the lower region of the combustion chamber, and the smoke gas is fed into devices used for recapturing heat at the outlet of the combustion chamber, a preheated additional gas comprising both oxygen and a non-flammable gas is fed through feed devices at each end of each of the smoke gas tunnels in the flow direction of the drawn-off smoke gases, so that the additional gas fed into the smoke gas tunnels permeates the smoke gas tunnel over the entire length of the combustion chamber, wherein each amount of additional gas fed in is regulated, and the additional gas is preheated before feeding into the smoke gas tunnel.