Hydrogen production is gaining increasing importance from the viewpoints of ultimate clean and high calorific value energy sources, and especially for the use of fuel cells. Among various known methods for hydrogen-production, the large-scale commercialized production is almost limited in steam reforming of natural gas or methanol. Finding alternative, more efficient, and technologically convenient methods of hydrogen production using compact reformers is in high demand for mobile as well as stationary fuel cell applications.  A Ni-based seven-component composite catalyst has been developed for thermo-neutral reforming of liquid hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen rich syn gas. The catalyst structure has been designed as highly enhancing hydrogen spillover effect to avoid both coke formation and sulfidation of the catalyst metals. The catalyst has not only the functions of the reforming but also the catalytic combustion. Therefore, more easily combustible light hydrocarbons contained in the liquid fuels react with air/oxygen fed at considerably lower temperatures and generate large amount of heat due to exothermic reaction. This reaction causes heat to elevate catalyst-bed temperature up to 800 -900°C within a very short period of time. Simultaneously, steam reforming is induced while suppressing excessive raise of catalyst temperature. This thermo-neutralization on the same catalyst surface can maintain the reactions stable without the requirement of an external heat source. Typical results obtained by the thermo-neutral reforming (TNR) method in a micro-reactor with various feedstocks for hydrogen production will be presented focusing on the features and performance of the novel catalyst. The stability of the TNR catalyst was tested for 2400 hours with heavy naphtha as feedstock in a fixed-bed micro-reactor. The performance of the newly developed catalyst was also tested in a cyclic on/off mode for 250 cycles. The TNR catalyst showed excellent performance in terms of stability in continuous as well as cyclic mode of operation.

Catalyst development for reforming of liquid hydrocarbons for hydrogen production

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