Höyryreformoinniksi

Höyryreformoinniksi refers to the process of steam reforming, a widely used industrial method for producing hydrogen gas. It involves reacting a hydrocarbon fuel, typically natural gas (primarily methane), with steam at high temperatures and pressures. The general reaction for methane is CH4 + H2O -> CO + 3H2. This primary reaction is endothermic, meaning it requires heat to proceed.

The steam reforming process typically occurs in two stages. The first stage, known as primary reforming, takes place in tubes filled with a nickel-based catalyst, heated externally in a furnace. This stage produces a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and some unreacted methane. The second stage, secondary reforming, often involves introducing a small amount of air or oxygen into the gas mixture. This provides the necessary heat for the endothermic primary reforming reaction and also converts some of the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide through the water-gas shift reaction.

The water-gas shift reaction, CO + H2O -> CO2 + H2, is an important secondary reaction that increases the overall yield of hydrogen. Following the reforming stages, the gas mixture typically undergoes further purification steps to remove carbon dioxide and any remaining impurities to obtain a pure hydrogen stream. Steam reforming is a cornerstone of industrial hydrogen production, essential for applications like ammonia synthesis, methanol production, and petroleum refining.