Editing Steam reforming (section)

== Industrial practice==
[[File:Global Hydrogen Production by Method.png|thumb|231x231px|Global Hydrogen Production by Method<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last1=Dincer|first1=Ibrahim|last2=Acar|first2=Canan|date=2015-09-14|title=Review and evaluation of hydrogen production methods for better sustainability|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360319914034119|journal=International Journal of Hydrogen Energy|language=en|volume=40|issue=34|pages=11096|doi=10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.12.035|bibcode=2015IJHE...4011094D |issn=0360-3199|url-access=subscription}}</ref>]]
The reaction is conducted in multitubular [[packed bed]] reactors, a subtype of the [[plug flow reactor]] category. These reactors consist of an array of long and narrow tubes<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=Speight|first=James G.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1129385226|title=Handbook of industrial hydrocarbon processes|date=2020|isbn=9780128099230|edition=Second|location=Cambridge, MA|oclc=1129385226}}</ref> which are situated within the combustion chamber of a large [[industrial furnace]], providing the necessary energy to keep the reactor at a constant temperature during operation. Furnace designs vary, depending on the burner configuration they are typically categorized into: top-fired, bottom-fired, and side-fired. A notable design is the [[Foster-Wheeler]] terrace wall reformer.

Inside the tubes, a mixture of steam and [[methane]] are put into contact with a [[nickel]] catalyst.<ref name=":4" /> Catalysts with high [[surface-area-to-volume ratio]] are preferred because of [[diffusion]] limitations due to high [[operating temperature]]. Examples of [[catalyst]] shapes used are spoked wheels, gear wheels, and rings with holes (''see:'' [[Raschig ring|''Raschig rings'']]). Additionally, these shapes have a low [[pressure drop]] which is advantageous for this application.<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1002/14356007.o12_o01 |chapter-url={{Google books|qBknDwAAQBAJ|page=429|plainurl=yes}} |chapter=Gas Production, 2. Processes |title=Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry |year=2011 |last1=Reimert |first1=Rainer |last2=Marschner |first2=Friedemann |last3=Renner |first3=Hans-Joachim |last4=Boll |first4=Walter |last5=Supp |first5=Emil |last6=Brejc |first6=Miron |last7=Liebner |first7=Waldemar |last8=Schaub |first8=Georg |isbn=978-3-527-30673-2 }}</ref>

Steam reforming of natural gas is 65–75% efficient.<ref>{{citation|title=Hydrogen Production – Steam Methane Reforming (SMR)|url= https://www.amiqweb.es/app/download/9343795/6hydrogenproductionsteammethanereforming.pdf|work=Hydrogen Fact Sheet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060204211916/http://www.getenergysmart.org/Files/HydrogenEducation/6HydrogenProductionSteamMethaneReforming.pdf|access-date=28 August 2014|archive-date=4 February 2006}}</ref>

The [[United States]] produces 9–10 million tons of hydrogen per year, mostly with steam reforming of natural gas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fact of the Month May 2018: 10 Million Metric Tons of Hydrogen Produced Annually in the United States|url=https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/fact-month-may-2018-10-million-metric-tons-hydrogen-produced-annually-united-states|website=Energy.gov|language=en}}</ref> The worldwide ammonia production, using hydrogen derived from steam reforming, was 144 million tonnes in 2018.<ref name="USGS">{{cite report|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2020/mcs2020-nitrogen.pdf|title=Nitrogen (Fixed)—Ammonia|date=January 2020|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}</ref> The energy consumption has been reduced from 100 GJ/tonne of ammonia in 1920 to 27 GJ by 2019.<ref name="ram2019">{{cite web|last1=Ramskov|first1=Jens|date=16 December 2019|title=Vinder af VIDENSKABENS TOP 5: Hydrogen og methanol uden energifrås|url=https://ing.dk/artikel/vinder-videnskabens-top-5-hydrogen-methanol-uden-energifraas-230864|website=[[Ingeniøren]]|language=da}}</ref>

Globally, almost 50% of hydrogen is produced via steam reforming.<ref name=":3" /> It is currently the least expensive method for hydrogen production available in terms of its capital cost.<ref name=":5">{{Citation|last1=Velazquez Abad|first1=A.|title=Production of Hydrogen|date=2017-01-01|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124095489101174|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies|pages=293–304|editor-last=Abraham|editor-first=Martin A.|place=Oxford|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-0-12-409548-9.10117-4|isbn=978-0-12-804792-7|access-date=2021-11-16|last2=Dodds|first2=P. E.|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In an effort to decarbonise hydrogen production, [[carbon capture and storage]] (CCS) methods are being implemented within the industry, which have the potential to remove up to 90% of CO<sub>2</sub> produced from the process.<ref name=":5" /> Despite this, implementation of this technology remains problematic, costly, and increases the price of the produced hydrogen significantly.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Abdulla |first1=Ahmed |last2=Hanna |first2=Ryan |last3=Schell |first3=Kristen R |last4=Babacan |first4=Oytun |last5=Victor |first5=David G |title=Explaining successful and failed investments in U.S. carbon capture and storage using empirical and expert assessments |journal=Environmental Research Letters |date=29 December 2020 |volume=16 |issue=1 |page=014036 |doi=10.1088/1748-9326/abd19e |s2cid=234429781 |doi-access=free }}</ref>