Reforming efficiency profiles

Figure 3.17 Reforming efficiency profiles of the systems studied as a function of the reactor...

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. 

For the example of methane steam reforming, Eq. (8) yields an acceleration factor of 4. Accordingly, the axial displacement of the reaction zone is a multiple of the axial displacement of thermal fronts. The difference of the axial displacement between the reaction front and the thermal front determines the axial profile of heat demand during the subsequent exothermic semicycle. Efficient heat recovery requires equal heat capacities of the process streams during both semicycles. The initial state can be restored by discrete heat sources distributed at equal distances along the catalytic part of the reactor. Each point source initiates a thermal wave that covers the distance to the next heating point (Fig. 1.13, right). This concept features... 

Peripheral components, which are classified under the term balance of plant (BoP), must be selected depending on requirements such as compactness, reliability, high efficiency, power class, load profile and operating characteristics, low noise emissions, and non-reactivity. The field test results of fuel-cell systems in use show that the rate of system breakdowns are often caused by the BoP components and not by the fuel cell or major components such as the reformer. Typical BoP components in a fuel cell system are as follows ... 

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