Dynamics of a sodium heat pipe natural gas reformer

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5514903

Shen, J C

Energy transmission via a chemical heat pipe is based on reversible endothermic and exothermic reactions. One application of the chemical heat pipe concept is the SOLTHERM process, which utilizes solar energy from solar collectors to drive the endothermic methane-steam reforming reaction and delivers chemical energy to users through pipelines and the reverse exothermic methanation reaction. Solar fluxes at central receivers are as high as 1 MW/m/sup 2/, a factor of ten greater than utilized by the heat-transfer limited reforming reactor. Accordingly, flux transformers such as sodium heat pipes must be used to supply energy to the reactor. A sodium heat pipe natural gas reformer pilot plant has been designed, constructed and operated to study the performance of a commercial scale, simulated solar energy reformer. The concept of a sodium heat pipe reformer has been shown to be feasible by the pilot plant tests. Complete conversion of methane is achievable within current reactor dimensions. Heat transfer rates from heat pipe to catalyst and within catalyst bed itself are shown to be large and estimable from existing heat transfer correlations. Existing reformer computer model simulate the reactor closely, as shown by a comparison of experimental and calculated data. Large extent of catalyst breakup was observed, possibly caused by heat pipe thermal elongation and contraction. A layer of catalyst powder was found on the heat pipe wall, reducing heat transfer to the catalyst bed. Hydrogen permeation into the heat pipe was a problem, hindering energy transport to the reactor upper section. A thermal regeneration technique was developed successfully to expel trapped hydrogen from the heat pipe interior, but is very time-consuming and expensive.

• Research Organization: Houston Univ., TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5514903
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
030400 -- Natural Gas-- Products & By-Products
ALKALI METALS
ALKANES
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC REFORMING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONSTRAINTS
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HEAT
HEAT PIPES
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATING SYSTEMS
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
METALS
METHANE
NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PILOT PLANTS
PROCESS HEAT
REFORMER PROCESSES
SODIUM
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR FLUX
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SOLAR PROCESS HEAT
STEAM REFORMER PROCESSES