• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.30 no.12
• /
• pp.1268-1272
• /
• 2008

Low temperature plasma applied with partial oxidation is a technique to produce synthesis gas from methane. Low temperature plasma reformer has superior miniaturization and start-up characteristics to reformers using steam reforming or CO$_2$ reforming. In this research, a low temperature plasma reformer using GlidArc discharge was proposed. Reforming characteristics for each of the following variables were studied: gas components ratio (O$_2$/CH$_4$), the amount of steam, comparison of reaction on nickle and iron catalysts and the amount of CO$_2$. The optimum conditions for hydrogen production from methane was found. The maximum Hydrogen concentration of 41.1% was obtained under the following in this condition: O$_2$/C ratio of 0.64, total gas flow of 14.2 L/min, catalyst reactor temperature of 672$^{\circ}C$, the amount of steam was 0.8, reformer energy density of 1.1 kJ/L with Ni catalyst in the catalyst reactor. At this point, the methane conversion rate, hydrogen selectivity and reformer thermal efficiency were 66%, 93% and 35.2%, respectively.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2009.06a
• /
• pp.731-734
• /
• 2009

KIER has been developed a compact and highly efficient fuel processor which is one of the key component of the residential PEM fuel cells system. The fuel processor uses methane steam reforming to convert natural gas to a mixture of water, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and unreacted methane. Then carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide in water-gas-shift reactor and preferential oxidation reactor. A start-up time of the fuel processor is about 1h and CO concentration among the final product is maintained less than 5 vol. ppm. To achieve high thermal efficiency of 80% on a LHV basis, an optimal thermal network was designed. Internal heat exchange of the fuel processor is so efficient that the temperature of the reformed gas and the flue gas at the exit of the fuel processor remains less than $100^{\circ}C$. A compact design considering a mixing and distribution of the feed was applied to reduce the reactor volume. The current volume of the fuel processor is 17L with insulation.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2008.05a
• /
• pp.247-250
• /
• 2008

Biomass gasification is a promising technology for producing a fuel gas which is useful for power generation systems. In biomass gasification processes, tar formation often causes some problems such as pipeline plugging. Thus, proper tar treatment is necessary. So far, nickel (Ni)-based catalysts have been intensively studied for the catalytic tar removal. However, the deactivation of Ni-based catalysts takes place because of coke deposition and sintering of Ni metal particles. To overcome these problems, we have been using ruthenium (Ru)-based catalyst for tar removal. It is reported by Okada et al., that a Ru/$Al_2O_3$ catalyst is very effective for preventing the carbon deposition during the steam reforming of hydrocarbons. Also, this catalyst is more active than the Ni-based catalyst at a low steam to carbon ratio (S/C). Benzene was used for the tar model compound because it is the main constituent of biomass tar and also because it represents a stable aromatic structure apparent in tar formed in biomass gasification processes. The steam reforming process transforms hydrocarbons into gaseous mixtures constituted of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), carbon monoxide (CO), methane ($CH_4$) and hydrogen ($H_2$).

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.213-218
• /
• 2012

Steam reforming of methane (SRM) is the primary method to produce hydrogen. Commercial Ni-based catalysts have been optimized for SRM with excess steam ($H_2O/CH_4$ > 2.5) at high temperatures (> $700^{\circ}C$). However, commercial catalysts are not suitable under severe conditions such as stoichiometric steam over methane ratio ($H_2O/CH_4$ = 1.0) and low temperature ($600^{\circ}C$). In this study, 15wt.% Ni catalysts supported on $Ce_{0.8}Zr_{0.2}O_2$ were prepared at various calcination temperatures for SRM at a very high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of $621,704h^{-1}$. The calcination temperature was systematically varied to optimize 15wt.% $Ni-Ce_{0.8}Zr_{0.2}O_2$ catalyst at a $H_2O/CH_4$ ratio of 1.0 and at $600^{\circ}C$. 15wt.% $Ni-Ce_{0.8}Zr_{0.2}O_2$ catalyst calcined at $500^{\circ}C$ exhibited the highest $CH_4$ conversion as well as stability with time on stream. Also, 15wt.% $Ni-Ce_{0.8}Zr_{0.2}O_2$ catalyst calcined at $500^{\circ}C$ showed the highest $H_2$ yield (58%) and CO yield (21%) among the catalysts. This is due to complex NiO species, which have relatively strong metal to support interaction (SMSI).

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2007.05b
• /
• pp.2232-2237
• /
• 2007

Steam reforming and catalytic reforming of $CH_4$ conversion to produce synthesis gas require both high temperatures and high pressure. Non-thermal plasma is considered to be a promising technology for the hydrogen rich gas production from methane. In this study, three phase AC GlidArc plasma system was employed to investigate the effects of gas composition, gas flow rate, catalyst reactor temperature and applied electric power on the $CH_4$ and $H_2$ yield and the product distribution. The studied system consisted of three electrode and it connected AC generate power system different voltages. In this study, air was used for the partial oxidation of methane. The results showed that increasing gas flow rate, catalyst reactor temperature, or electric power enhanced $CH_4$ conversion and $H_2$ concentration. The reference conditions were found at a $O_2$/C molar ratio of 0.45, a feed flow rate of 4.9 ${\ell}$/min, and input power of 1kW for the maximum conversions of $CH_4$ with a high selectivity of $H_2$ and a low reactor energy density.

• Korean Membrane Journal
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.68-74
• /
• 2003

Methane steam reforming (MSR) reaction for hydrogen production was studied in a membrane reactor (MR) using two tubular membranes, one Pd-based and one of porous alumina. A higher methane conversion than the thermodynamic equilibrium for a traditional reactor (TR) was achieved using MRs. The experimental temperature range was 350-500$^{\circ}C$; no sweep-gas was employed during reaction tests to avoid its back-permeation through the membrane and the steam/methane molar feed ratio (m) varied in the range 3.5-5.9. The best results (the difference between the MR conversion and the thermodynamic equilibrium was of about 7%) were achieved with the alumina membrane, working with the highest steam/methane ratio and at 450$^{\circ}C$. Silica membranes prepared at KRICT laboratories were characterized with permeation tests on single gases (N$_2$, H$_2$ and CH$_4$). These membranes are suited for H$_2$ separation at high temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 2015

The study investigated numerically the heat transfer and chemical reaction characteristics of a methane-steam reforming by using a 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code (Fluent ver. 16.1). The fuel temperature and its species mole fractions were estimated for various Reynolds number in the reformer tube at different burner temperatures. The catalysts were modeled as the porous medium of nicrome in the reformer tube. We considered radiation effect as well as conduction and convective heat transfer because the methane-steam was reformed at very high temperature condition above 1000 K. For two different Reynolds numbers of 49,000 and 88,000 and the burner temperatures were in the range from 1,100 K to 1,300 K. At a low Reynolds number, the fuel temperature increased, leading to increase in hydrogen reforming. However, fuel temperature and hydrogen reforming decreased because of higher convective heat transfer from relatively low fuel temperature. Moreover, the hydrogen reforming also increased with burner temperature.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.48-59
• /
• 2016

The earth has been warming due to $CO_2$ gas emissions from fossil fuel cars and a ship. So the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle(FCV) using hydrogen as a fossil fuel alternative energy is in the spotlight. Hyundai Motor Company of Korea and a car companies of the US, Japan, Germany is developing a FCV a competitive. Obtained hydrogen as a by-product of the coke plant, oil refineries, chemical plants of steel mill, coal is reacted with steam at high temperatures, methane gas, manufacture of high purity hydrogen Methane Steam Reforming and hydrogen detachable reforming method using the Pressure Swing Adsorption or Membrane Reforming technical or decomposition of water to produce electricity. Hydrogen is the electronic industry, metal and chemical industries, which are used as rocket fuel, etc. are used in factories, hospitals, home of the fuel Ene.Farm system or FCV. And a method of storing hydrogen is to store liquid hydrogen and a method for compressing normal hydrogen to the hydrogen container, by storing the latest hydride or Organic chemical hydride method is used to carry the hydrogen station. Korea is currently 13 hydrogen stations in place and in operation, plans to install a further 43 places.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.248-254
• /
• 2006

The promotion effects of noble metals upon the activity and reducibility in steam methane reforming over $Ni/MgAl_2O_4$ catalysts were investigated. While $Ni/MgAl_2O_4$ catalysts require the pre-reduction by $H_2$, the noble metal-added catalysts show high catalytic activities without pre-treatment. According to $CH_4$-TPR, the addition of noble metal makes the $Ni/MgAl_2O_4$ catalyst easily reducible. The reduction degree of NiO in the noble metal-added catalysts after using at $650^{\circ}C$ without pre-reduction was $15{\sim}20%$, and was lower than that in the $H_2$-reduced $Ni/MgAl_2O_4$ catalyst(reduction degree=27%). The enhancement of the catalytic activity over noble metal-added catalysts results from easier reducibility by addition of noble metal and the synergy effect between noble metal and Ni.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2008.11b
• /
• pp.1996-2000
• /
• 2008

In autothermal reforming reaction, oxygen to carbon ratio (OCR) and steam to carbon ratio (SCR) are significant factors, which control temperature and carbon deposition into the reactor. The OCR is more sensitive than the SCR to affect the temperature distribution and reforming efficiency. In conventional operation, hydrocarbon fuel, steam, and oxygen was homogeneously mixed and injected into the reactor in order to get hydrogen-rich gas. The temperature was abruptly raised due to fast oxidation reaction in the former part of the reactor. Deactivation of packed catalysts can be accelerated there. In the present study, therefore, the effect of the oxygen distribution is introduced and investigated to suppress the carbon deposition and to maintain the reactor in the mild operating temperature (e.g., $700{\sim}800^{\circ}C$). In order to investigate the effect numerically, the following models are adopted; heterogeneous reaction model and two-medium model for heat balance.