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Reforming Catalyst

Steam Reforming Catalyst Systems

Nickel-based catalyst platform for primary, secondary, heat-exchange and pre-reforming duty across ammonia, methanol and hydrogen production trains.

6
Catalyst Models
4
Reformer Duties
3+
Feedstock Types
1
Integrated System

Technical Positioning

Sinotech's reforming catalyst platform is positioned around nickel-based steam reforming for ammonia, methanol, hydrogen and syngas production. The line spans primary low steam-to-carbon catalysts, heat-exchange reformer catalysts, secondary-reforming and thermal-protection catalysts, and hydrocarbon pre-reforming catalysts — evaluated together against tube-wall temperature, steam/carbon ratio, feedstock type and reformer furnace design.

Product Architecture

SRF-202

Energy-Saving Primary Reforming

Process Duty / Loading
Primary Reformer · Upper-Tube / Full-Tube Loading

Sintered nickel-alumina reforming catalyst with rare-earth promoter, sized for upper- or full-tube loading in primary steam reformers under low steam/carbon operation.

SRF-204

Lower-Tube Primary Reforming

Process Duty / Loading
Primary Reformer · Lower-Tube / Full-Tube Loading

Sintered nickel-alumina reforming catalyst for the lower half of primary reformer tubes processing natural gas and oilfield gas, also suited to full-tube loading.

SRF-240

Heat-Exchange Reformer Catalyst

Process Duty / Loading
Gas-Heated Reformer · Two Pellet Variants

Nickel-alumina catalyst with rare-earth promoter engineered for heat-exchange-type reformers in ammonia plants, available as a four-hole cylinder or grooved double-arc pellet.

SRF-262

Secondary Reformer Top Guard

Process Duty / Loading
Secondary Reformer · Used with SRF-280

High-temperature thermal-protection material for the top of secondary reformers, paired with SRF-280 to absorb gas-flow impact and severe thermal shock up to 1500°C.

SRF-280

Secondary Reforming Catalyst

Process Duty / Loading
Secondary Reformer · Up to 1200°C Outlet

Bonded nickel-alumina catalyst for secondary reforming of hydrocarbon and light-oil feedstocks, including coke-oven-gas oxygen and oxygen-enriched reforming.

SRF-150

Hydrocarbon Pre-Reformer

Process Duty / Loading
Pre-Reformer · Naphtha / LPG / Natural Gas

Bonded pre-reforming catalyst that converts higher hydrocarbons into methane-rich gas ahead of the primary reformer, suited to naphtha, LPG, light hydrocarbons and refinery gas.

Process System Logic

Reforming Catalyst
+
Steam/Carbon Ratio
+
Tube-Wall Temperature
+
Feedstock Type
=
Reforming Performance

Where It Is Used

Technical Control Matrix

AreaTechnical Control FocusIndustrial Relevance
ActivityCH4 conversion / dry-gas methane slipDetermines reformer outlet gas quality and downstream load
Mechanical StrengthRadial crush strength, low-strength particle ratioSupports tube-loading integrity and pressure-drop stability
Thermal ResistanceContinuous and peak-temperature tolerance, sintering resistanceProtects against hot-band formation and tube-wall stress
Steam/Carbon FlexibilityLow S/C operation capabilitySupports energy-saving reformer operation

Model Details

Each model in the family, set out by process duty, application and role. Full technical datasheets are available on request.

SRF-202

Energy-Saving Primary Reforming

Process Duty
Primary steam reforming, low steam/carbon operation
Application
Ammonia plant primary reformer tubes (upper half or full tube)

SRF-202 is a sintered, energy-saving hydrocarbon steam reforming catalyst built on a nickel-alumina base with a rare-earth promoter. It is supplied in five pellet geometries — Raschig ring, five-rib wheel, six-hole planar, double-surface and four-hole lobed — so tube loading can be matched to furnace design and pressure-drop targets. The standard duty is the upper half of primary reformer tubes under low steam/carbon operation, though full-tube loading is also supported.

SRF-204

Lower-Tube Primary Reforming

Process Duty
Primary steam reforming, full or lower-tube duty
Application
Primary reformers processing natural gas and oilfield gas

SRF-204 is a sintered nickel-alumina reforming catalyst for primary steam reformers running on methane-based feedstocks such as natural gas and oilfield gas. It is normally installed in the lower half of primary reformer tubes in ammonia plants, with multi-hole planar and double-surface pellet options, and can also be used across the full tube where furnace design calls for it.

SRF-240

Heat-Exchange Reformer Catalyst

Process Duty
Heat-exchange reforming
Application
Heat-exchange-type reformers in ammonia plants

SRF-240 is a nickel-alumina catalyst with a rare-earth promoter, purpose-built for heat-exchange-type reformers. It is offered as a four-hole cylinder pellet or a four-hole grooved double-arc cylinder, giving plants a choice between the two geometries based on bed pressure-drop and mechanical-strength requirements.

SRF-262

Secondary Reformer Top Guard

Process Duty
Secondary reformer thermal protection
Application
Top of hydrocarbon secondary reformers, used with SRF-280

SRF-262 is a high-temperature thermal-protection material built on an alumina support with nickel as the active component. Installed above SRF-280 at the top of secondary reformers, it is engineered to withstand the gas-flow impact and severe thermal shock unique to that position, with continuous-duty resistance well beyond normal reformer outlet temperatures.

SRF-280

Secondary Reforming Catalyst

Process Duty
Secondary / autothermal reforming
Application
Secondary reforming of methane-based and light-oil feedstocks; coke-oven-gas oxygen reforming

SRF-280 is a bonded nickel-alumina catalyst for secondary reforming of methane-based hydrocarbons, light-oil feedstocks, and coke oven gas under pure-oxygen or oxygen-enriched conditions. It is supplied as a ring or four-hole double-arc pellet and is rated for long-term operation at high outlet temperature with stable structure and strength.

SRF-150

Hydrocarbon Pre-Reformer

Process Duty
Hydrocarbon pre-reforming
Application
Naphtha, LPG, light hydrocarbons, refinery gas and natural gas, in fixed-bed pre-reformers

SRF-150 is a bonded pre-reforming catalyst combining nickel as the active component with alkaline-oxide and rare-earth promoters. It converts higher hydrocarbons — naphtha, LPG, light hydrocarbons or refinery gas, used singly or blended with natural gas — into methane-rich gas in a fixed-bed pre-reformer ahead of the primary reforming stage.

How Selection Works

Reforming catalyst selection is reviewed against:

Reformer type (primary / secondary / heat-exchange / pre-reformer) Feedstock type Steam/carbon ratio Tube-wall and hot-band temperature Operating pressure Space velocity Feed sulfur tolerance Tube loading position (upper/lower/full) Required CH4 slip Particle shape and size Service-life target Pilot/customer trial feedback

Related Technical Pathways

Prepare a Technical Product Inquiry

To support faster and more accurate product discussion, customers may share:

Reformer type and furnace design
Feedstock type and composition
Steam/carbon ratio
Operating pressure and temperature range
Required catalyst dimensions/shape
Tube loading position
Current catalyst supplier/model (if replacing)
Trial quantity
Destination and packaging requirement
Other Products

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