ABSTRACT
This first chapter deals with the mass and energy balances that need to be carried out in the process of the reforming of a desulphurised natural gas stream. The natural gas stream is reacted in two reformers, the primary and the secondary. In the primary reformer, the natural gas is reformed through the operation of the methane–steam and water–gas shift reactions. Using appropriate equilibrium and enthalpy data, mass and energy balances on the reformers are carried out and an output stream from the secondary reformer tabulated. The mass and energy balances involved in supplying energy for the primary reformer by burning natural gas are also calculated. A separate appendix discusses the enthalpy calculation using component polynomials for the variation of component enthalpy with temperature. Separate data sources for the component enthalpies are discussed. Mass and energy balances for the use of energy from the process stream leaving the secondary reformer to be used in a boiler feed water are also calculated.
