Performances analysis of a compact kW-scale ATR reactor for distributed H2 production

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, February 2013, Volume 15, Issue 1, pp 63-71
Performances analysis of a compact kW-scale ATR reactor for distributed H2 production
Vincenzo Palma, Antonio Ricca, Paolo Ciambelli
Industrial Engineering Department, University of Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, 84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy
Abstract
Auto-thermal reforming of hydrocarbons shows great promise for producing hydrogen on a small scale. Since auto-thermal reforming reactor is fed with hydrocarbon, water and air, their mixing plays a fundamental role in process performances, by influencing hydrocarbon conversion, reaction selectivity, and hydrogen production.
To obtain a very compact reaction system, reactants pre-heating and products cooling were realized in a special heat exchange system, fully integrated in the reactor. Researchers created a multipoint analysis system to study the reaction trend along the catalytic bed, allowing them to monitor both temperature and composition in several points of catalytic bed, and then in several space velocity conditions. Preliminary results demonstrated very short start-up time, and fast response to feed variations.  This confirms that the proposed reaction system is a promising solution for distributed and non-continuous hydrogen production.
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