Patent ID: 7901662
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: C01B,F22B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for generating steam comprising: (i) supplying a first stream to a retrofitted steam reformer, wherein the first stream consists essentially of water; has a temperature of about 185° C. or greater; a pressure of about 1150 kPa or greater; and at least about 50 wt % of the first stream is in the form of steam; wherein the retrofitted steam reformer comprises a reformer inlet in fluid communication with a reformer outlet, and at least one tube arranged between, and in fluid communication with the reformer inlet and the reformer outlet; wherein the at least one tube is in thermal communication with a furnace of the retrofitted steam reformer; and wherein the at least one tube is a reformer section of the retrofitted steam reformer in which prior to being retrofitted, a feed stock of the steam reformer, being operated on to produce synthesis gas, would have been contacted with a catalyst in the presence of heat to effect a reformation process such that the feed stock would have been converted into a product of the steam reformer; (ii) heating at least a portion of said first stream within said at least one tube to produce a second stream consisting essentially of steam at a temperature of about 760° C. or greater and at a pressure of 1150 kPa or greater such that the molecular composition of the first stream is identical to the molecular composition of second stream; and (iii) removing said second stream from said outlet of said retrofitted steam reformer, wherein the only process which takes place within the retrofitted steam reformer is the increase in temperature and/or phase change of the first stream from liquid water to steam.