Tuesday, 25 July 2017
Grand Ballroom East (The Diplomat Beach Resort)
P. Snytnikov (Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, UNICAT Ltd), D. Potemkin (Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Novosibirsk State University), P. Hutton, R. Bosch (Novorocs Technologies LLC), P. Simonov (Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, UNICAT Ltd.), and V. Sobyanin (Boreskov Institute of Catalysis)
The development of highly efficient modular power generation units is of great importance. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are currently considered as the most efficient devices for the conversion of hydrocarbons, (natural gas, LPG, JP or diesel) into electric power. To provide stable SOFC operation, initial fuel, before feeding to the SOFC anode, should be converted to synthesis gas with high hydrogen content. Catalytic steam, combined steam-dry, partial oxidation or autothermal reforming are the most appropriate reactions for this purpose. The optimum temperature for these reactions is 550 − 900 °C, which falls within the SOFC working temperature range. The development of a catalyst system that can act as a combined catalytic reformer and heat exchanger (to remove or supply heat at the reaction zone) is very promising for efficient power generation. The combined catalytic reformer and heat exchange catalyst should have the following characteristics:
high intrinsic activity with respect to its weight and volume (due to size limitations of the reformer);
coking resistance;
high intrinsic heat conductivity (in order to provide uniform temperature and reaction rate distribution across the reformer);
low pressure drop.
The present report summarizes the results obtained during a systematic study of several new nickel- and rhodium- based catalyst compositions supported on metal foams, their performance, and fundamental principles of the above mentioned reactions for conversion of various common hydrocarbon fuels.
A procedure for deposition of active catalyst components onto metal foams has been developed. It was systematically verified on Ni, Ni-Fe, FeCrAlY-steel foams with porosity from 10 to 70 pores per inch (ppi), obtained from various manufacturers. The catalytic performance of the coated metal foam substrates was studied in a fixed-bed continuous flow reactor. Total feed flow rate (GHSV − gas hourly space velocity) ranged from 3,000 to 30,000 hr-1. The reaction temperature varied from 500 to 800 °C. The catalysts (as-synthesized and used) were characterized by BET, XRD, XPS, TEM, EDX, SEM, TPR and TPD techniques.
