Hydrogen production and management for petroleum processing

Abstract

As refinery product specifications become more stringent to meet environmental requirements, refinery demand for hydrogen has continually increased to supply the required hydroprocessing units. Additional improvements in burning qualities, like cetane, also require more hydrogen. This chapter addresses the processes used to make and/or recover hydrogen for petroleum processing applications. The processes described here include naphtha catalytic reforming, steam-methane reforming, hydrogen recovery, partial oxidation, gasification, olefins cracking, and electrolysis as they relate to hydrogen. Some basic methods for overall refinery hydrogen optimization and management are also described.