Patent ID: 8512426

Claim:
An improved steam-hydrocarbon reformer, comprising: an inlet system configured to supply a steam-hydrocarbon mixture; a plurality of rows of catalyst tubes connected to the inlet system and vertically disposed and configured to allow flow of the steam-hydrocarbon mixture therethrough; a plurality of manifolds connected to the plurality of rows of catalyst tubes and configured to receive and aggregate the flow of the steam-hydrocarbon mixture from a respective row of catalyst tubes connected to a respective manifold; at least one transfer line coupled between at least two of the plurality of manifolds, the transfer line configured to receive and aggregate the flow of the steam-hydrocarbon mixture from the at least two manifolds; a firebox configured to enclose the rows of catalyst tubes and having a firebox bottom, the rows of catalyst tubes extending through the firebox bottom to the respective manifolds that are connected to the respective rows, the manifolds being located below the firebox bottom; a plurality of header boxes connected to the firebox bottom and configured to enclose the plurality of manifolds therein, the header boxes disposed below the firebox bottom in line with the manifolds, a respective manifold being enclosed by a respective header box, the header boxes having openings formed through the header boxes; a plurality of manifold supports mounted on a datum and disposed through the openings in the header boxes, and configured to support the manifolds independently of the header boxes that enclose the manifolds; and a plurality of seals disposed between the manifold supports and the header boxes at the openings and configured to seal the openings.