A process and apparatus are provided for generating at least two types of
steam having different purities in steam reforming processes in which at
least two steam reforming units (steam reformers) (are operated in
parallel. The first steam stream having a higher purity than that of the
second steam stream. The steam reformers operated in parallel are
combined to form groups of at least two steam reformers (groups) within
which the high purity steam is generated in one of the steam reformers by
vaporization of degassed and demineralized water and low purity steam is
generated in at least one of the other steam reformers by vaporization of
degassed impurity-containing water (dirty water). The dirty water is
formed at least in part from the condensate (process condensate) produced
within a group, and is predominantly made up of water.