Azadeh Mirvakili

In this study, the reformer furnace was evaluated by three-dimensional simulation via Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) and results were compared with industrial data and they were validated. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) was applied to compare the performance of this reformer at the first and tenth years of operation. Results showed that a 10% increase in fuel consumption in the tenth year cannot compensate for all temperature drop in skin tubes, and there was still a 14 K temperature drop. Also, a 35 K increase of flue gas temperature in the outlet of the furnace. Also, a 23% increase in fuel consumption can offset the temperature drop in the tenth year, however the flue gas temperature increased about 60 K, it had negative effect on the conviction section of the reformer. This study, the effect of changing the bricks arrangements was investigated and results showed that the bricks arrangements in the design condition was optimum and flue gases sucked in the down tunnel. The flue gas moved straight through the furnace from top to bottom of the furnace. The results showed that the emissivity factors changing had significant affect along time on the radiation energy portion. The ceramic coating utilization on the surface wall of furnace can compensate the emissivity factor reduction. The Cetak coating with emissivity factor 0.9 was investigated and results showed that coating utilization can increase 19 K of skin tubes temperature. Therefore, the coating using in the furnace can save fuel consumption about 7%. Another point was the fuel components changing along time. The results showed that the enhanced hydrogen content in fuel leads to a decrease the radiation energy portion.