• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.33 no.11
• /
• pp.869-875
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the optimal condition of the syngas production by reforming of propane using Gliding arc plasma reformer. The gliding arc plasma reformer in 3 phases has been newly designed and developed with a quick starting and fast response time. It can be applicable to the various types of fuels (Hydrocarbons $C_xH_y$), and it has a high conversion rate of fuels and high production of hydrogen. The parametric screening studies were carried out according to the changes of a steam feed amount i.e., steam/carbon ratio, total gas flow rate and input electric power. The optimum operating conditions were S/C ratio 2.8, total gas flow rate of 14 L/min and input electric power of 2.4 kW. The result of optimum operating conditions showed the 55 % $H_2$, 14 % CO, 15 % $CO_2$, 10 % $C_3H_8$ and 4 % $CH_4$. Also, $C_3H_8$ conversion, $H_2$ yield and $H_2$ selectivity were 90 %, 42 %, 15 %, respectively. The energy efficiency and specific energy requirements were 37 % and 334 kJ/mol respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2006.05a
• /
• pp.551-552
• /
• 2006

The miniature fuel cells have emerged as a promising power source for applications such as cellular phones, small digital devices, and autonomous sensors to embedded monitors or to micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) devices. Several chemicals run candidate at a fuel in those systems, such as hydrogen. methanol, ethanol, acetic acid, and di-methyl ether (DME). Among them, hydrogen shows most efficient fuel performance. However, there are some difficulties in practical application for portable power sources. Therefore, more recently, there have been many efforts for development of micro-reformer to operate highly efficient micro fuel cells with liquid fuels such as methanol, ethanol, and DME In our experiments, we have integrated a micro-fuel processor system using low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) materials. Our integrated micro-fuel processor system is containing embedded heaters, cavities, and 3D structures of micro- channels within LTCC layers for embedding catalysts (cf. Figs. 1 and 2). In the micro-channels of LTCC, we have loaded $CuO/ZnO/Al_2O_3$ catalysts using several different coating methods such as powder packing or spraying, dipping, and washing of catalyst slurry.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2011.11a
• /
• pp.138-138
• /
• 2011

GTL(Gas to Liquid) 합성유 생산 공정은 크게 합성가스 개질공정(reformer), FT 반응공정, upgrading 공정으로 구성된다. 본 연구에서는 FT 반응기에 유입되는 합성가스의 생산공정인 개질공정 최적화 시뮬레이션을 수행하였다. 기존에 HYSYS 공정 모사 tool로 구현한 개질공정 모델에 dynamic simulation을 적용하여 공정 운전 시간 변화에 따른 온도/압력/조성의 일정범위 별 생산 가스의 성분비를 모사하고자 한다. Dynamic 공정 시뮬레이션은 모사 대상 공정의 운전 시간 별 결과값 변화를 산출할 수 있는 방법으로 기존 정상상태(steady-state) 시뮬레이션에 비해 현실 공정의 운전 변수를 보다 더 정확하게 반영할 수 있는 장점이 있다. 본 시뮬레이션은 1bpd급 GTL 파일럿 플랜트의 설계 자료를 근거로 수행되었으며, 향후 운전 데이터를 feedback하여 최적의 운전 매뉴얼 도출자료로 활용코자 한다. 아울러, 다음의 시간 변화별 모사 결과 데이터들을 산출하고 공정의 최적운전 조건을 분석하고자 한다. - 시간에 따른 공정의 온도/압력 변화, 이에 연동되는 반응기 출구의 1) $H_2$/CO 비율, 2) $CH_4$ conversion, 3) $CO_2$ conversion 본 연구의 결과 데이터를 1bpd급 GTL 플랜트 내 합성가스 개질공정의 운전조건 최적화에 적용코자 하며, 이는 개질반응기의 안정적인 연속운전을 통한 GTL 통합공정의 운전 효율향상에 기여 가능하리라 기대된다. 향후 개질공정의 후단공정인 FT 합성공정 시뮬레이션 과업과 연계하여 GTL 통합공정 시뮬레이션 및 최적화에 따른 실증 규모의 스케일업 기반 데이터를 마련할 수 있을 것이다.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.100-108
• /
• 2011

The use of biogas as an energy source reduces the chance of possible emission of two greenhouse gases, $CH_4$ and $CO_2$, into the atmosphere at the same time. Its nature of being a reproducible energy source makes its use even more attractive. This research if for the hydrogen production through the steam reforming of the biogas. The biogas utilized 3D-IR matrix burner in which the surface combustion is applied. The nickel catalyst was used inside a reformer. Parametric screening studies were achieved as Steam/Carbon ratio, biogas component ratio, Space velocity and Reformer temperature. When the condition of Steam/Carbon ratio, $CH_4/CO_2$ ratio, Space velocity and Refomer temperature were 3.25, 60%:40%, 19.32L/$g{\cdot}hr$ and $700^{\circ}C$ respectively, the hydrogen concentration and methane conversion rate were showed maximum values. Under the condition mentioned above, $H_2$ concentration was 73.9% and methane conversion rate was 98.9%.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.30 no.8 s.251
• /
• pp.731-740
• /
• 2006

The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is expected to be a candidate for distributed power sources in the next generation, due to its high efficiency and high-temperature waste heat utilization. In this study, the 5-cell SOFC stack was operated with pure hydrogen or reformed gas at anode side and air at cathode side. When stack was operated with diesel and methane ATR reformer, the influence of the $H_2O/C,\;O_2/C$ and GHSV on performance of stacks have been investigated. The result shows that the cell voltage was decreased with the increase of $H_2O/C$ and $O_2/C$ due to the partial pressure of fuel and water, and cell voltage was more sensitive to $O_2/C$ than $H_2O/C$. Next, the dynamic model of SOFC system included with ATR reformer was established and compared with experimental data. Based on dynamic model, the operation strategy to optimize SOFC-Reformer system was suggested and simulated.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.772-779
• /
• 2011

New type of syngas generator based on the partial oxidation of biogas in volumetric permeable matrix reformers was suggested as an effective, adaptable and relatively simple way of syngas and hydrogen production for various low-scale applications. The use of biogas as an energy source reduces the chance of possible emission of two greenhouse gases, $CH_4$ and $CO_2$, into the atmosphere at the same time. Its nature of being a reproducible energy source makes its use even more attractive. Parametric screening studies were achieved as air ratio, biogas component ratio, input gas temperature, Steam/Carbon ratio. As the air ratio was low, the production of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide increased in the condition that 3D matrix reformer maintains the stable driving. As it was the simulation biogas in which the carbon dioxide content is high, the flammable range became narrow. And the flammable range was extended if the injected gas was preheated. The stable driving was possible in the low air ratio. The amount of hydrogen production was increased as S/C ratio increased.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.269-274
• /
• 2014

The experimental performance evaluation of a cylindrical steam reformer with various thermal conditions has been conducted. The bottom space of the cylindrical reactor was packed with Ruthenium (Ru) catalyst. A three-segment furnace was installed to create the axially variable boundary temperature distribution. Six K-type thermocouples were inserted into the catalyst layer, and three exhaust ports were fabricated on the side wall along the flow direction. The exhausted gases at each port were analyzed by using gas chromatograph (GC) system. The experimental results showed that the reforming reaction occurs intensively in the upstream region and more hydrogen is obtained when the intake gas is sufficiently heated up through the enhanced steam reforming (SR) reaction. The axially increasing boundary temperature setup provided the maximally accumulated reforming efficiency of 74.8%, when the reactor was placed at the 3rd section of the furnace.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.153-156
• /
• 2009

Low temperature methane steam reforming to produce $H_2$ for fuel cells has been calculated thermodynamically considering both heat loss of the reformer and unreacted $H_2$ in fuel cell stack. According to the thermodynamic equilibrium analysis, it is possible to operate methane steam reforming at low temperatures. A scheme for the low temperature methane steam reforming to produce $H_2$ for fuel cells by burning both unconverted $CH_4$ and $H_2$ to supply the heat for steam methane reforming has been proposed. The calculated value of the heat balance temperature is strongly dependent upon the amount of unreacted $H_2$ and heat loss of the reformer. If unreacted $H_2$ increases, less methane is required because unreacted $H_2$ can be burned to supply the heat. As a consequence, it is suitable to increase the reaction temperature for getting higher $CH_4$ conversion and more $H_2$ for fuel cell stack. If heat loss increases from the reformer, it is necessary to supply more heat for the endothermic methane steam reforming reaction from burning unconverted $CH_4$, resulting in decreasing the reforming temperature. Experimentally, it has been confirmed that low temperature methane steam reforming is possible with stable activity.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.485-493
• /
• 2016

Recently submarine and unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) are equipped with a fuel cell system as an air independent propulsion system. Methanol fuel processor can efficiently supply the hydrogen to the fuel cell system to improve the ability to dive. This study investigated the optimal conditions of the methanol fuel processor that may be used in the closed environment. For this purpose, the numerical model based on Gibbs minimization equation was established for steam reformer and three exhaust gas burners. After simulating the characteristics of steam reformer according to the steam-to-carbon ratio (SCR) and the pressure change, the SCR condition was able to narrow down to 1.1 to 1.5. Considering water consumption and the amount of heat recovered from three burners, the optimum condition of the SCR can be determined to be 1.5. Nevertheless, the additional heat supply is required to satisfy the heat balance of the methanol fuel processor in the SCR=1.5. In other to obtain additional amount of heat, the combustion of methanol is better than the increased of SCR in terms of system design.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.33-39
• /
• 2007

In this study, the effect of reformer gas(RG) on the performance development of the exhaust gas recirculation(EGR) was investigated numerically in $CH_4/air$ premixed flame. Typically EGR is used to reduce the flame temperature and NOx emission, whereas RG can be used to improve the flame stability, such as homing velocity. This competitive relationship is focused in this study. As a result, it can be identified that the adjustments of EGR and RG ratio can achieve the low NOx emission and the similar flame stability to pure $CH_4/air$ premixed flame simultaneously.