Autothermal reforming technology

Today, different processes (steam reforming, autothermal reforming, partial oxidation, gasification) are available and commercially mature for hydrogen production from natural gas or coal. These processes would have to be combined with technologies for C02 capture and storage (CCS), to keep the emissions profile low. A power plant that combines electricity and hydrogen production can be more efficient than retrofitted C02 separation systems for conventional power plants. 

In addition to SMR, other technologies are used for syngas production from natural gas that involve addition of oxygen or air. The catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) reaction is given in Reaction (3) and in autothermal reforming (ATR) this reaction is combined with Reactions (1) and (2). 

Hydrogen Burner Technology (HBT) (28) was founded to bring to market reformer systems based on the principles of under-oxidized combustion (E OB ). These systems use either non-catalyzed partial oxidation reformers or catalyzed autothermal reformers. The systems for fuel cell applications include all of the components required to deliver anode-ready gas and to... 

Schuessler et al. [85] of XCELLSiS (later BALLARD) presented an integrated methanol fuel processor system based on autothermal reforming, which coupled fuel/water evaporation with exothermic preferential oxidation (PrOx) of carbon monoxide. The reactor technology was based, in contrast to most other approaches, on a sintering technique. 

Figure 9.2 Sensitivity of investment cost to membrane price and 02 flux in autothermal reforming, after [14]. Cost employing conventional cryogenic air separation technology shown by broken line.

Economics Tubular reforming technology is attractive at capacities >2,500-3,000 mtpd methanol, where the economy of scale of alternative technologies such as two-step or autothermal reforming cannot be fully utilized. 

Dybkjffir I (1995) Tubular reforming and autothermal reforming of natural gas-an overview of available processes. Fuel Processing Technology 42 85-107... 

If the water quantity added as feed increases up to a value corresponding to neutral energetic balance between exothermic and endothermic reaction steps, the overall process is denominated autothermal reformer (ATR). This approach combines both SR and POX catalytic processes and it has been recently proposed to optimize the performance in terms of compactness and efficiency of small-medium production plants. This technology could permit a compromise between the good efficiency of SR and the fast start up of POX. However, it needs a careful control of in going mass stream [6, 7]. 

---