The steam reforming of methane is considered as one of the hydrogen production methods with solar thermal energy. In this study, lab-scale solar steam reforming of methane was examined under direct solar radiation from a solar simulator. A volumetric receiver–reactor with quartz window was used and three different catalysts were prepared, ICI 46-6, Ru/Al2O3, and Pd/Al2O3. An SiC foam absorber was employed as the catalyst supporter, and Al2O3 was applied by wash-coating onto the SiC foam support. The characteristics of the steam reforming of methane in a solar receiver were investigated with respect to reaction temperature, space velocity, and steam/methane ratio. The composition of the product gas was analyzed by gas chromatography. From the experiment, it was observed that methane conversion was increased with temperature and above the temperature of 700 °C, methane conversion increased significantly and approached equilibrium conversion. The catalytic activities of the three catalysts were estimated in the same reaction conditions, and the Ru/Al2O3 showed the highest activity followed by the Pd/Al2O3. The commercial ICI catalyst showed the lowest activity.
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November 2012
Research-Article
Solar Steam Reforming of Methane in a Volumetric Receiver–Reactor With Different Types of Catalysts
Gui Young Han
Gui Young Han
1
e-mail: gyhan@skku.ac.kr
Department of Chemical Engineering,
Department of Chemical Engineering,
Sungkyunkwan University
,Suwon 440-746
, Korea
1Corresponding author.
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Gui Young Han
e-mail: gyhan@skku.ac.kr
Department of Chemical Engineering,
Department of Chemical Engineering,
Sungkyunkwan University
,Suwon 440-746
, Korea
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING. Manuscript received October 31, 2011; final manuscript received July 10, 2012; published online October 5, 2012. Assoc. Editor: Wojciech Lipinski.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Nov 2012, 134(4): 041013 (4 pages)
Published Online: October 5, 2012
Article history
Received:
October 31, 2011
Revision Received:
July 10, 2012
Citation
Do, H. B., Jang, J. T., and Han, G. Y. (October 5, 2012). "Solar Steam Reforming of Methane in a Volumetric Receiver–Reactor With Different Types of Catalysts." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. November 2012; 134(4): 041013. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4007355
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