METHOD OF HEATING RAW NATURAL GAS SUPPLIED TO STEAM REFORMER, SYSTEM AND ITS USE Russian patent published in 2025 - IPC C01B3/02 C01B3/34 C01C1/04 

FIELD: heating.

SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to a method of heating raw natural gas used as a raw material for a steam reformer of an ammonia production system. Method is characterized by the fact that the system comprises a steam reformer functionally connected to a heat recovery unit including at least two heating coils maintained at different temperatures. Natural gas is fed through at least two heating coils. Method includes the following stages: a) heat recovery in the heat recovery unit from the ammonia production system; and b) exchanging at least a portion of the heat recovered in step a) with at least a portion of the natural gas feed, thereby obtaining a heated natural gas feed; wherein the natural gas feed does not contain water vapour; method is characterized by that: heat recovered in step a) is heat recovered from flue gas obtained in a steam reformer; stage b) includes successive stages: b1) heating of raw natural gas from temperature in range of 10 °C to 40 °C to temperature in range of 180 °C up to 210 °C when the raw material contacts the first heating coil of the heat recovery unit, while obtaining the pre-heated raw natural gas; and b2) subsequent additional heating of pre-heated raw natural gas from step b1) to a temperature in range of 360 °C up to 380 °C when the raw material contacts with the second heating coil of the heat recovery unit, while obtaining heated raw natural gas; and the method further includes a step of: c) separating the preheated natural gas feed from step b1) into a stream of preheated feedstock fed into a second heating coil of the heat recovery unit, and a gas stream having a temperature in range of 180 °C up to 210 °C, used as fuel in steam reformer, wherein the gas flow having a temperature in range of 180 °C up to 210 °C, used as fuel in the steam reformer, obtained at step c), is additionally mixed with natural gas. Present invention also relates to a system for heating raw natural gas (1) used as a raw material for steam reformer (19) of an ammonia production system, and to use of the system according to the present invention to implement the method according to the present invention.

EFFECT: use of the proposed invention enables to ensure the proper heat balance between the tubular section and the reformer furnace.

7 cl, 4 dwg, 1 ex