US 12,331,388 B2
Method for converting an existing industrial unit to produce hydrogen from ammonia
Christoph Beyer, Frankfurt am Main (DE); Robert Breining, Frankfurt am Main (DE); and Dieter Ulber, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
Assigned to L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Paris (FR)
Filed by L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Paris (FR)
Filed on Aug. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/896,026.
Prior Publication US 2024/0068081 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. C23C 10/50 (2006.01); B01J 19/00 (2006.01); B23K 9/04 (2006.01); B23K 101/04 (2006.01); B23K 101/34 (2006.01); C23C 10/18 (2006.01); C23C 10/34 (2006.01); C23C 10/54 (2006.01); C23C 10/58 (2006.01)
CPC C23C 10/50 (2013.01) [B01J 19/0053 (2013.01); B23K 9/04 (2013.01); C23C 10/18 (2013.01); C23C 10/34 (2013.01); C23C 10/54 (2013.01); C23C 10/58 (2013.01); B01J 2219/00024 (2013.01); B01J 2219/0236 (2013.01); B23K 2101/04 (2018.08); B23K 2101/34 (2018.08)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for converting an existing steam methane reformer (SMR) to produce hydrogen via ammonia cracking by adding a protective layer to an inner surface of equipment to be used in the existing SMR, the method comprising the steps of:
providing the existing SMR, wherein the SMR was formerly used to produce hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock;
improving the nitridation resistance of the inner surface of the equipment; and
fluidly connecting the existing SMR with an ammonia source, such that existing SMR is configured to receive ammonia from the ammonia source,
wherein the equipment is selected from the group consisting of a catalyst tube, feed piping, a feed preheater, process gas heat exchangers, and combination thereof.