Autothermal reforming of sulfur-free and sulfur-containing hydrocarbon liquids

Technical Report · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6444839

The mechanisms by which various fuel component hydrocarbons related to both heavy petroleum and coal-derived liquids are converted to hydrogen without forming carbon were investigated. Reactive differences between paraffins and aromatics in autothermal reforming (ATR) were shown to be responsible for the observed fuel-specific carbon formation characteristics. The types of carbon formed in the reformer were identified by SEM and XRD analyses of catalyst samples and carbon deposits. From tests with both light and heavy paraffins and aromatics, it is concluded that high boiling point hydrocarbons and polynuclear aromatics enhance the propensity for carbon formation. The effects of propylene addition on the ATR performance of benzene are described. In ATR tests with mixtures of paraffins and aromatics, synergistic effects on conversion characteristics were identified. Indications that the sulfur content of the fuel may be the limiting factor for efficient ATR operation were found. The conversion and degradation effects of the sulfur additive (thiophene) were examined.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6444839
• Report Number(s): N-8228788
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080102* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Thermochemical Processes
ALKANES
AROMATICS
AUTOTHERMAL REFORMER PROCESSES
CARBON
CATALYSTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELEMENTS
FUEL CELLS
FUELS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARAFFIN
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
REFORMER PROCESSES
SULFUR
SYNERGISM
THIOPHENE
WAXES