Methane reforming

Net efficiency includes themial losses in reforming methane to synthesis gas. 

This reaction is of great technological interest in the area of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) since it is catalyzed by the Ni surface of the Ni-stabilized Zr02 cermet used as the anode material in power-producing SOFC units.60,61 The ability of SOFC units to reform methane "internally", i.e. in the anode compartment, permits the direct use of methane or natural gas as the fuel, without a separate external reformer, and thus constitutes a significant advantage of SOFC in relation to low temperature fuel cells. 

Fig.7. Scheme of thermsil catalytic conversion and utilization of solar energy based on reversible methane reforming / methanation reactions. 

A typical gases composition obtained by steam reforming methane is ... 

Xu, Z. and Froment, G., Methane steam reforming, methanation and water-gas shift I. Intrinsic kinetics, AIChE., 35, 88,1989. 

S adsorption Partial oxidation Low temperature Oz bleeding Autothermal reforming Methanation... 

It is not known which would be cheaper and more practical, electrolysis or reforming methane at small local filling stations or at large centralized plants. Technological advances are sure to change many aspects and questions. 

The preferred route to synthesis gas currently is by reforming methane (principal component of natural gas) ... 

An example of a system transient is shown in Figure 9.3. The figure shows a 20 amp load increase on a nominal 3 kW SOFC system using a stream-reformed methane fuel. Stack load current, stack voltage, and input fuel flow rate are shown. Here, the system is pre-warmed to the conditions shown (ca. 20 amps), following which the controller permits exporting more power to a load at the ramp rate shown. As the transition occurs, numerous other system variables also adjust, some in direct response to the increase in load, and others imposed by the control system in order to keep all system components within their design limits. 

Higher Hydrocarbons. - A number of papers describing the steam reforming of higher hydrocarbons are particularly concerned with the subject of carbon deposition on the catalysts. The subject of carbon deposition on nickel catalysts is considered to be somewhat outside the subject of this review, especially as the subject is covered by two excellent recent discussions of papers on carbon deposition and coking during steam reforming, methanation, and other reactions.202 203... 

Diffraction patterns from a nickel-alumina steam reforming—methanation catalyst and a sample of sintered nickel recorded on a LIN AC source... 

Phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) 200 Phosphoric acid Hydrogen, reformed methane 35-45 1 up to 100 MW power plants, 5-500 kW heating power station... 

One route to syngas is by steam-reforming methane, over a nickel catalyst at high temperature (Equation 3) ... 

As an alternative to conventional steam reforming, methane could be reformed in a stream of carbon dioxide rather than steam of water. 

G.E. Voecks, Comparisons of a Metal Supported Catalyst Bed to a Conventional Packed Bed for Steam Reforming Methane, Topical Reports on Experimental Efforts in Support of DOE Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell Program, Final Report, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Publication D-5614, pp. 12-38 (1988). 

Xu J, Proment GF (1989). Methane Steam Reforming, methanation and Water-Gas Shift I. Intrinsic Kinetics. AIChE J 35(l) 88-96... 

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