Hydrogen production by a steam-reformer for heavy hydrocarbons

Abstract

The authors develop a small and simple steam-reforming reactor in a home-use size for n-dodecane as a heavy-hydrocarbons fuel. Under such a well-controlled condition by a thermal diffuser as the reactor satisfies two target-temperature criteria, the authors measure the inside-temperature profile and the hydrogen molar fraction (concentration) CH2, together with the molar fractions CCH4, CCO and CCO2 of other main gas components such as CH4, CO and CO2, respectively, using a gas chromatograph. In addition, the authors conduct theoretical calculations based on the thermal-equilibrium theory, and reveal CH2, CCH4, C CO and CCO2, as well as experiments. As a result, the authors successfully achieve suitable inside-temperature profiles. The steam-reforming reaction becomes more active at the position where temperature T> 800 K. The effects of the steam-to-carbon molar ratio S/C upon C H2, CCH4, CCO and CCO2 are shown, experimentally and theoretically. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical ones. Besides, carbon balance and conversion ratio show high accuracy in experiments. © 2013 The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.