The main components of natural gas are CH4, C2H6, C3H8 and C4H10. The steam reforming is known to be the most low-cost method for hydrogen production from natural gas. Ni-based catalysts and precious metal-based catalysts have been used for reforming reaction. To design a reforming reactor, we have to determine residence time to obtain the wanted conversion at the reactor exit. It is necessary to find accurate kinetic data for the basic design of seam reforming reactor. To study the steam reforming reaction of mrthane, ethane, propane, butane, and natural gas, we used Ni catalysts. Steam reforming was carried out at atmospheric pressure in a continuous flow fixed-bed quartz reactor. The products were analyzed using an on-line gas chromatograph equipped with TCD, FID, Molesieve 5A column and Porapak N column. As a result of the reforming reaction using natural gas as a reactant on the commercial Ni and Ru catalysts, the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model is more suitable than the power law model in explanation of reforming reaction. Reactor size could be calculated through PRO/II simulation for steam reforming of natural gas.

Reaction kinetics for steam reforming of natural gas over nickel catalysts

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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