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Steam Reforming of Hydrocarbons for Synthesis Gas Production

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Abstract

Billingham UK, where Mike Spencer spent his entire industrial career, has long been associated with the use of steam reforming for the production of synthesis gas required for the manufacture of some important chemicals, particularly ammonia and methanol. This paper describes the steam reforming process and presents some of the history of the development of tubular reforming. The catalysts, technology and industrial operation of plants are briefly reviewed. Newer technologies, such as adiabatic reforming, autothermal reforming (ATR) and gas heated reforming (GHR) that aim to increase efficiency of and reduce the environmental impact of conventional steam reforming processes are presented.

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Acknowledgements

The previous generations of Billingham based scientists and engineers, who, like Mike Spencer, who have laid foundations for everything that is done today and will be done in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Whitby, UK

    M. Fowles

  2. Johnson Matthey Process Technologies, Belasis Avenue, PO Box 1, Billingham, Cleveland, TS23 1LB, UK

    M. Carlsson

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  1. M. Fowles
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  2. M. Carlsson
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Both authors contributed to writing and reviewing of this article.

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Correspondence to M. Carlsson.

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Fowles, M., Carlsson, M. Steam Reforming of Hydrocarbons for Synthesis Gas Production. Top Catal 64, 856–875 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-021-01496-z

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