Advanced Steam Reforming Systems

Although SMR is a well-developed technology, there is room for further technological improvement, in particular, with regard to energy efficiency, gas separation, and H2 purification stages. 

In the sorption-enhanced reforming (SER) process, one of the gaseous reaction products (C02) of the catalytic reforming reaction is separated from the reaction zone by sorption. As a result, the equilibrium of the reaction is shifted toward products according to the Le Chatelier s principle. Balasubramanian et al. [18] studied the SMR reaction in the presence of CaO as a C02 acceptor. Thus, in addition to reactions 2.4 and 2.6, the reaction of C02 with the C02 acceptor (CaO) takes place in the reaction zone  

Yasuda et al. [20] reported on the development and testing of an HMR equipped with Pd-based alloy modules with the total capacity of 20 Nm3/h. The unit operated at the temperature of 540-560°C and produced hydrogen with purity of 99.999% at the average 

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SMART H2 [Steam Methane Advanced Reformer Technology] A process for making hydrogen by the steam reforming of methane. It differs from similar systems in housing the catalyst within a proprietary heat exchanger. Developed by Mannesmann KTI in 1996 it was planned for installation in Salisbury, MD, in late 1997. 

A fuel processor for PEFC application contains sulfur removal, an ATR-enhanced UOB reformer, advanced shift reactors, a steam generation system, a product gas cooler, a PROX system, a gas compressor, an air compressor, an anode-off gas oxidizer, and a control system. Goal efficiency (LHV H2 consumed by fuel cell/LHV fuel consumed by fuel processor) is 69 to 72%. H2 concentration is presently >50% (dry). 

The approach being used to achieve this result was described recently by KTI reporting on work carried out for the Electric Power Research Institute (13). The basic scheme, in block diagram form, is shown in Figure 12. It consists of a hybrid reactor combining an advanced tubular steam reformer with an autothermal catalytic reformer. This combination overcomes the limitations of lower catalytic activity in HTSR systems toward the heavier hydrocarbons while retaining a significant part of the desired process characteristics. 

Kellogg Brown Root Ammonia, advanced Hydrocarbons/natural gas naphtha Catalytic-steam reforming process uses pressure-based Kellogg Reforming Exchange System (KRES) NA NA... 

The project is intended to establish and upgrade the technology basis necessary for advanced HTGR developments. Some heat utilization system is planned to be connected to the HTTR and demonstrated at the former stage of the second core. At present, steam-reforming of methane is the first candidate. Also the HTGR with Gas-Turbine has been studied for assessment of technical viability. 

Based on the type of thermal destruction process selected, there are several different commercial designs and configurations of the reactor that have been utilized for a particular application. Some of the most commonly used technologies include rotary kilns, starved air incinerators, fluidized beds, mass-bum incinerators, electrically heated reactors, microwave reactors, plasma, and other high-temperature thermal destruction systems. Recent advances include gasification and very high temperature steam reforming. 

The steam reforming of hydrocarbons such as diesel has been demonstrated in MSRs whose mechanical stability has been proven at high temperature (750-850 °C). Most of the configurations consist of co-current flow diesel steam reforming combined with combustion of fuel cell anode and/or cathode off-gas surrogate. Full conversion was obtained in all cases. Power equivalent of these systems varied between 2-5 kW thermal energy of the hydrogen produced and 10 kW thermal input of the diesel feed [4,73]. However, the most advanced... 

The steam reforming process is an important element in solving the problem of the huge amounts of associated gas produced jointly with oil production. The gas may be converted either into methanol or synthetic liquid hydrocarbons. Other applications include gases for direct reduction of iron ore, conversion of hydrocarbons for fiiel cells, and advanced energy transfer systems, in which nuclear heat or solar energy are absorbed by the endothermic steam reforming process. 

This project is based on leveraging developments at GTI in the stationary PEM fuel cell and compressed natural gas vehicle market sectors. GTI has been developing high-efficiency steam methane reformers for stationary fuel cells, including design approaches to achieve compact size, reduced cost, and simplified control and operation. Modification of this reformer—as a hydrogen generator with advanced controls—will comprise a core element of this system. 

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