Production of hydrogen for autonomous power plants

The reforming of higher hydrocarbons to be used in autonomous power plants is not basically different from that of methane described above and to be used on a large industrial scale. The same reactions—SR, POX, and ATR—are used. Depending on the hydrocarbon actually used, particular catalysts and processing conditions (temperature, pressure) will be selected. 

Special needs and features in plant operation will, of course, require adjustments in reactor design. The reforming reactors used for autonomous power plants will have to be more compact. They will often be integrated into the fuel cell plant itself, forming indirect reforming fuel cells (IR-FCs). Through coordination and optimization of the heat flows in the reactor and fuel cells, a marked weight 

Amendola et al. (2000) had suggested the hydrolysis of an aqueous solution of sodium borohydride (NaBHj), a material containing 10.9 wt% of hydrogen, for local hydrogen generation  

An alkaline solution of this hydride is stable hydrolysis proceeds in the presence of ruthenium catalyst. It is a great virtue of this process (and also of the process of ammonia borane decomposition mentioned above) that the reaction stops instantly when the catalyst is lifted from the solution. Therefore, hydrogen generation can be controlled on demand that is, in harmony with fuel cell needs. 

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