In this work a compact catalytic reactor was analysed for the ATR of CH4 as natural gas surrogate. Structured catalysts (commercial honeycomb and foam monoliths) performances in CH4 processing were studied. In reactor design, great attention has been paid to the thermal integration, in order to obtain a total self-sustainability of the process avoiding additional external heat sources, and improving the plant compactness. Through a heat exchange system integrated in the reactor, water and air streams are preheated by exploiting the heat from exhaust stream, allowing to feed reactants at room temperature as well as cooling products stream at a temperature suitable for further purification stages (Water Gas Shift, Preferential Oxidation). In order to have a very comprehensive process analysis, temperatures and composition were monitored in 6 point along the catalytic bed. The influence of catalytic system geometry and thermal conductivity in the process performances were also analysed. Preliminary tests showed high thermal system efficiency, with a good hydrocarbon conversion at different operating conditions for both catalyst typologies.
Structured catalysts for methane auto-thermal reforming in a compact thermal integrated reaction system
PALMA, Vincenzo;RICCA, ANTONIO;CIAMBELLI, Paolo
2013
Abstract
In this work a compact catalytic reactor was analysed for the ATR of CH4 as natural gas surrogate. Structured catalysts (commercial honeycomb and foam monoliths) performances in CH4 processing were studied. In reactor design, great attention has been paid to the thermal integration, in order to obtain a total self-sustainability of the process avoiding additional external heat sources, and improving the plant compactness. Through a heat exchange system integrated in the reactor, water and air streams are preheated by exploiting the heat from exhaust stream, allowing to feed reactants at room temperature as well as cooling products stream at a temperature suitable for further purification stages (Water Gas Shift, Preferential Oxidation). In order to have a very comprehensive process analysis, temperatures and composition were monitored in 6 point along the catalytic bed. The influence of catalytic system geometry and thermal conductivity in the process performances were also analysed. Preliminary tests showed high thermal system efficiency, with a good hydrocarbon conversion at different operating conditions for both catalyst typologies.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
