The parameter estimation and refinement of a steam methane reformer model.

This work comprises of incremental enrichment of a steam methane reformer model to enable its use as a prediction tool for process changes. Using a variety of compounding improvements a model was developed that accurately predicts relevant outlet reformed gas parameters. This model reflects a real reformer including: physical and chemical catalyst degradation effects, geometry of real reformer design, real gas physical properties estimation, modern reaction kinetics and coking prediction. This model is validated and regressed against industrial data from the steam reformer of an operating methanol plant. Using this industrial data relevant key models of: reaction kinetics, heat transfer, pressure drop and higher hydrocarbon reaction kinetics from literature are evaluated for their accuracy and effectiveness in an industrial setting