Liquid fuel reforming using catalytic membrane reactors

FUEL 24

Doug S. Jack, djack@eltronresearch.com1, James H. White, jwhite@eltronresearch.com2, Joseph A. Trimboli, jtrimboli@eltronresearch.com2, Christopher G. Burk, cburk@eltronresearch.com2, Sara L. Rolfe, srolfe@eltronresearch.com2, David H. Anderson, danderson@eltronresearch.com2, and Michael V. Mundschau, mmundschau@eltronresearch.com2. (1) Business Development, Eltron Research & Development Inc, 4600 Nautilus Court South, Boulder, CO 80301-3241, (2) Eltron Research & Development Inc, 4600 Nautilus Court South, Boulder, CO 80301-3241
Research addresses the integration of oxygen transport membranes, hydrogen transport membranes and fuel reforming catalysts into a compact system for generating high-purity hydrogen from carbon-based fuels. Fuel is partially oxidized into a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide on the inner surface of oxygen transport membranes, and hydrogen is extracted after water-gas shift and purified through dense hydrogen transport membranes. Ceramic oxide membranes, both porous and dense, are designed to transport oxygen, in quantities necessary for partial oxidation, from the outer walls of reactors to inner walls which are coated with fuel reforming catalysts. Oxygen transport membranes and their associated reforming catalysts are designed to operate well above 900 C, which thermodynamically favors production of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and suppresses formation of elemental carbon.