Various process routes for the manufacture of H, from hydrocarbon feedstocks will be considered.
Developments in technology and their effects on the economics will be discussed. A survey of commercial experience in the areas of the steam reforming process and of the partial oxidation process will be given. An economic comparison will be made between the steam reforming routes using natural gas or naphtha as feedstock and the residual fuel oil partial oxidation route.
Cette communication examine différentes voies pour la fabrication d'hydrogène à partir d'hydrocarbures.
Elle présente les progrès technologiques réalisés et leurs conséquences économiques. Elle expose l'expérience commerciale acquise avec les procédés basés sur le reformage à la vapeur et ceux basés sur l'oxydation partielle. Enfin, elle présente une comparaison économique entre la voie du reformage à la vapeur à partir de gaz naturel ou de naphta, et celle de l'oxydation partielle du fuel oil résiduaire.
steam reforming of natural gas, refinery gases and naphtha which, even today, is used to manufacture the At the end of 1970 world consumption of hydrogen1 majority of hydrogen and H,-rich synthesis gases. was about 220 billion m3. About 50% was used for In view of the shortage of natural gas, a stagnant producing ammonia, 13% for methanol and 30% for coke oven gas production and the surplus of heavy treating refinery products. The balance was taken up petroleum products forecasted for the next few years, by minor fields such as hydrogen peroxide manu- partial oxidation may well be expected to increase in facture, fat hardening, and others. Recently, a new importance. Only about 12% of the world hydrogen major field has opened up due to the rising coke cost, requirement is currently produced from heavy namely ore reduction. petroleum residues.
If one views the anticipated increase in H, and Coal is-particularly since the beginning of the oil synthesis gas requirement in the US as typical for the crisis at the end of 1973-very much in discussion as world demand, hydrogen consumption will probably raw material for hydrogen production, however, the double by 1980. The bulk will be used for ammonia accent being quite clearly on the synthesis products production, crude oil refining and synthetic fuels. such as ammonia and methanol and less on pure Hydrogen as nuclear heat carrier is expected to play a hydrogen. role in the 1980s.
In the same way as the order of precedence of the hydrogen consumers has changed in the last two decades, so have the feedstocks for H2 production.
Coke-oven gas fractionation and electrolysis have become less important since catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons began at the end of the 1930s. Since 1956 partial oxidation of heavy petroleum residues has been applied on an increasing scale in addition to by EMIL SUPP and HEINZ J