Article
Article
Beyond the hype: making green hydrogen financially viable
Improve plant efficiency, lower maintenance costs, simplify operations and enhance plant safety
Our licensed hydrogen production technology is built on proven Foster Wheeler heritage and centred around the industry's leading Terrace Wall™ hydrogen reformer design. Continuously refined over decades of operation, our hydrogen production units deliver exceptional reliability, operational flexibility and long catalyst tube life, helping operators maximise performance while reducing maintenance requirements. Supported by an in-house process design package, our technology has been selected for more than 120 hydrogen and synthesis gas plants worldwide, representing over 3.5 million Nm³/h of installed hydrogen capacity. We have extensive experience across a wide range of feedstocks, from natural gas to naphtha, and plant capacities ranging from 3,000 to more than 200,000 Nm³/h.
Terrace Wall™ Hydrogen Reformer Technology
Our unique Terrace Wall™ reforming furnace is characterised by a firing arrangement and sloped-wall radiant section design that together enable long catalyst tube life (often in excess of 100,000 hours) and deliver the flexibility to extend a reformer's operating envelope. This often allows production of hydrogen in excess of the unit's design capacity, which may in turn deliver additional economic benefits.
The design promotes more uniform heat distribution across catalyst tubes, helping to minimise tube metal temperatures and reduce the risk of localised hot spots. This contributes to improved reliability, extended operating campaigns and greater flexibility when responding to changing production requirements. The Terrace Wall™ configuration can also support debottlenecking and capacity expansion initiatives, helping operators maximise the value of existing assets while maintaining safe and efficient operation.
Our reforming units can operate with ultra-low-NOx burners to meet tightening environmental emission standards worldwide. We can further support projects through detailed engineering, procurement and construction services, as well as a wide range of lifecycle support activities including operator training, hydrogen unit and network assessments, troubleshooting, performance monitoring and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.
Planning to upgrade your hydrogen production facility?
From technology selection and licensing through detailed engineering, construction support and lifecycle optimisation, Wood can support your project at every stage.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hydrogen reformer?
A hydrogen reformer is the core process unit used to convert hydrocarbon feedstocks such as natural gas into hydrogen through a reforming process. Reformer design plays a critical role in determining plant efficiency, operating flexibility, reliability and maintenance requirements.
What makes the Terrace Wall™ reformer different?
The Terrace Wall™ reformer combines a unique firing arrangement with a sloped-wall radiant section design to support long catalyst tube life, improved operational flexibility and reliable hydrogen production across a wide operating envelope.
How can a hydrogen production unit increase capacity?
Production capacity can often be increased through debottlenecking studies, furnace upgrades, operational improvements and process optimisation. The most effective approach depends on the existing plant configuration and operating constraints.
What feedstocks can be used in hydrogen production units?
Our hydrogen production technology has been applied across a range of feedstocks, including natural gas and naphtha, with plant capacities ranging from 3,000 to more than 200,000 Nm³/h of hydrogen.
How can hydrogen plant performance be improved?
Performance improvements may be achieved through operating assessments, furnace optimisation, catalyst management, troubleshooting studies, performance monitoring and hydrogen network optimisation.
