Q & A > Question Details
Why give Top Fire Burners in Reformer in some H2 Plants? What is advantage of that?
 
Answers
06/05/2012 A: Balasubramanian Iyer, Nexen CNOOC Limited, balasubramanian.n@aol.in
It depends on the Licensor. The Reformer is part of the licensor package and different licensors have their own patented Reformer type. Top Fired is generally provided by Technip KTI. Side fired by Halder Topsoe. Both have its own advantages and Dis advantages based on Operation.
The main advantage of Top Fired is Compactness and Ease of Operation due to Less Number of Burners. But other Operational Difficulty is one cannot approach to burners in summer as the burners are located on the top of the furnace ie maximum heat liberation zone.
25/04/2012 A: Raghu Raj Singh, IOCL Haldia Refinery, singhrr@indianoil.in
As heat demand at top of tubes is more so it helps to maintain temperature at that portion. No of burners are lesser than side fired reformer resulting less maintenance. Top fired reformers also take less space so preferable for high capacity reformer. It is also seen that side fired reformer burners hot spot also seen. But main disadvantage is high temperature near burners so burners operation is very tough in summer.
25/04/2012 A: Ralph Ragsdale, Ragsdale Refining Courses, ralph.ragsdale@att.net
To avoid patents on bottom and side-fired designs??