STEAM REFORMING PROCESS WITH IMPROVED FLUE GAS FLOW

摘要

The invention relates to a hydrocarbon steam reforming process in a reforming furnace including: at least one combustion chamber having at least two vertical walls (1, 2) facing one another and made from a refractory material, containing at least one row of reforming tubes (3) arranged vertically at mid-distance between the two facing vertical refractory walls, with burners (4) placed on each of the two facing vertical refractory walls (1, 2), said burners being capable of producing radial flames parallel to the surface of the wall (1, 2); and at least one combustion gas discharge pipe located at the top end of the furnace on only one of the side walls (1). According to the invention, the gas discharge pipe has a deflector fitted level with the outlet at the junction between the pipe and the wall (1), which deflector opposes the combustion gases flowing towards said outlet so as to limit the preferential intake thereof in the half of the furnace located on the side of the gas discharge pipe outlet. The deflector preferably consists of a set of plates extending from the walls of the discharge pipe into the furnace towards the row of burners. The deflector can be fitted into the furnace at the outset or fitted later in order to improve the efficiency of a traditional furnace.