Steam reforming of petroleum heavy hydrocarbons

Abstract

The authors develop a small and simple steam-reforming reactor in a home-use size for such various heavy-hydrocarbons fuels as n-octane, n-decane, n-tetradecane and n-hexadecane in addition to n-dodecane. Under the thermal condition controlled by electric heaters and a gas burner with a thermal diffuser, measurements are conducted on the inside-temperature profile and the hydrogen molar fraction, together with the molar fractions of other main gas components such as methane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. As a result, the authors successfully achieve suitable inside-temperature profiles. And, the effects of the liquid-hourly space velocity upon the molar fractions, a conversion ratio and reforming efficiencies for various heavy-hydrocarbons are revealed. This suggests the common upper limit of liquid-hourly space velocity for the practically-suitable operation.

Keywords

• steam reforming
• fuel cell
• heavy hydrocarbon
• hydrogen