Catalytic Steam and Partial Oxidation Reforming of Liquid Fuels for Application in Improving the Efficiency of Internal Combustion Engines

Journal Article · Wed Feb 07 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Energy and Fuels

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b02576· OSTI ID:1436053

Brookshear, Daniel William ^[1]; Pihl, Josh A. ^[1]; Szybist, James P. ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Here, this study investigated the potential for catalytically reforming liquid fuels in a simulated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) mixture loop for the purpose of generating reformate that could be used to increase stoichiometric combustion engine efficiency. The experiments were performed on a simulated exhaust flow reactor using a Rh/Al₂O₃ reformer catalyst, and the fuels evaluated included iso-octane, ethanol, and gasoline. Both steam reforming and partial oxidation reforming were examined as routes for the production of reformate. Steam reforming was determined to be an ineffective option for reforming in an EGR loop, because of the high exhaust temperatures (in excess of 700 °C) required to produce adequate concentrations of reformate, regardless of fuel. However, partial oxidation reforming is capable of producing hydrogen concentrations as high as 10%–16%, depending on fuel and operating conditions in the simulated EGR gas mixture. Meanwhile, measurements of total fuel enthalpy retention were shown to have favorable energetics under a range of conditions, although a tradeoff between fuel enthalpy retention and reformate production was observed. Of the three fuels evaluated, iso-octane exhibited the best overall performance, followed by ethanol and then gasoline. Overall, it was found that partial oxidation reforming of liquid fuels in a simulated EGR mixture over the Rh/Al₂O₃ catalyst demonstrated sufficiently high reformate yields and favorable energetics to warrant further evaluation in the EGR system of a stoichiometric combustion engine.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Office (EE-3V)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1436053
• Journal Information: Energy and Fuels, Journal Name: Energy and Fuels Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 32; ISSN 0887-0624
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
partial oxidation reforming
steam reforming
thermochemical recuperation