• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.234-243
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• 2006

Diesel autothermal reforming (ATR) is a chemical process to produce hydrogen for fuel cell applications. Several previous studies were carried out to identify technical issues in diesel reforming. It is hard to vaporize diesel due to its high boiling points. Liquid droplets of diesel result in inhomogeneous fuel mixing with other reactants such as $O_2\;and\;H_2O$, which leads to reduce the reforming efficiency and make undesired coke in reactor. To solve the fuel delivery issue, we applied an ultrasonic device as a fuel injection system. Ultrasonic injector (UI) remarkably enhanced the reforming efficiency. This paper will present the reforming results using UI. And we will discuss about atomization effects of diesel on autothermal reforming reaction.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05b
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• pp.2015-2020
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• 2007

Diesel is an excellent candidate fuel for fuel cell applications due to its high hydrogen density and well-established infrastructure. But, it is hard to guarantee desirable performance of diesel reformer because diesel reforming has several problems such as sulfur poisoning of catalyst and carbon deposition. We have been focusing on diesel autothermal reforming(ATR) for substantial period. It is reported that ATR of diesel has several technical advantages such as relatively high efficiency and fuel conversion compared to steam reforming(SR) and partial oxidation(POX). In this paper, we investigate characteristics of diesel reforming under various ratios of reactants(oxygen to carbon ratio, steam to carbon ratio) for improvement of reforming performances(high reforming efficiency, high fuel conversion, low carbon deposition). We also exhibit calculated heat balance of autothermal reformer at each condition to help thermal management of SOFC system.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.507-510
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• 2008

Characteristics of an autothermal reformer at various operating parameters have been studied in this paper. Numerical method has been used, and simulation model has been developed for the analysis. Full Combustion reaction, Steam Reforming(SR) reaction, Water-Gas Shift(WGS) reaction, and Direct Steam Reforming(DSR) reaction are assumed as dominant chemical reactions in the autothermal reformer. Simulation results are compared with experimental results for code validation. Operating parameters of the autothermal reformer are inlet temperature, Oxygen to Carbon Ratio(OCR), Steam to Carbon Ratio(SCR), and Gas Hourly Space Veolcity(GHSV). SR reaction rate decreases with low inlet temperature. If OCR is increased, $H_2$ yield is increased but optimal point is suggested. WGS reaction is activated with high SCR. When GHSV is increased, reforming efficiency is increased but pressure drop may decrease the system efficiency.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.91.1-91.1
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• 2010

The Reforming system is an effective method to generate hydrogen which uses for fuel cell system. The purpose of this study is to present characteristics of an autothermal reformer at various operating conditions and to investigate ideal conditions for reforming efficiency. Dominant chemical reactions are Full Combustion, Steam Reforming reaction, Water-Gas Shift reaction and Direct Steam Reforming reaction. Operating parameters of the autothermal reformer are inlet temperature, Oxygen to Carbon Ratio, Steam to Carbon Ratio and Gas Hourly Space Velocity. Autothermal reformer is filled with catalysis of a packbed-bed type. Using numerical approach, we have investigated on various reaction conditions.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.158.2-158.2
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• 2011

DME is acronym of dimethyl ether, which is spotlighted as an ideal fuel to produce hydrogen due to its high hydrogen/carbon ratio, high energy density and easiness to carry. In this research, we calculated thermodynamic hydrogen (or syngas) yield from DME autothermal reforming and compared to other fuels. The reforming efficiency was about 80% above $700^{\circ}C$. Lower OCR has higher reforming efficiency but, it requires additional heat supply since the reactions are endothermic. SCR has no significant effect on the reforming efficiency. The optimized condition is $700^{\circ}C$, SCR 1.5, OCR 0.45 without additional heat supply. Comparing to other commercial gaseous fuels (methane and propane), DME has higher selectivity of $H_2O$ and $CO_2$ than the others due to the oxygen atom in the molecule. To apply DME autothermal reforming to real system, a proper catalyst is required. Therefore, it is performed the experiment comparing various novel metal catalysts based on CGO. Experiments were performed at calculated condition. The composition of product was measured and reforming efficiency was calculated. The catalysts have similar efficiency at high temperature(${\sim}800^{\circ}C$) but, CGO-Ru has the highest efficiency at low temperature ($600^{\circ}C$).

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.636-644
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• 2008

The objective of this paper is to investigate characteristics of an autothermal reformer at various operating conditions. Numerical method has been used, and simulation model has been developed for the analysis. Pseudo-homogeneous model is incorporated because the reactor is filled with catalysts of a packed-bed type. Dominant chemical reactions are Full Combustion reaction, Steam Reforming(SR) reaction, Water-Gas Shift(WGS) reaction, and Direct Steam Reforming(DSR) reaction. Simulation results are compared with experimental results for code validation. Operating parameters of the autothermal reformer are inlet temperature, Oxygen to Carbon Ratio(OCR), Steam to Carbon Ratio(SCR), and Gas Hourly Space Velocity(GHSV). Temperature at the reactor center, fuel conversion, species at the reformer outlet, and reforming efficiency are shown as simulation results. SR reaction rate is improved by increased inlet temperature. Reforming efficiency and fuel conversion reached the maximum at 0.7 of OCR. SR reaction and WGS reaction are activated as SCR increases. When GHSV is increased, reforming efficiency increases but pressure drop from the increased GHSV may decrease the system efficiency.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Energy Engineering kosee Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.155-158
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• 2004

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.37-40
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• 2007

Diesel autothermal reforming(ATR) is an effective method for hydrogen production. But, diesel ATR has several problems such as the sulfur poisoning of catalyst and carbon deposition during reforming reactor. Especially, carbon deposition is a severe problem, which causes rapid performance degradation, in the reforming reaction. Ethylene among the reformate gas is a carbon precursor. Effective decomposition of ethylene is an important issue. In this paper, we investigated the carbon deposition from ethylene in the reforming reaction for proper reaction condition of diesel ATR. We achieved relatively high performance of diesel ATR under $H_{2}O/C=0.8$, $O_{2}/C=3$ condition that was based on the experiment of ethylene reforming reaction.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.33-36
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• 2007

Currently, many structured catalysts using microchannel are researched to apply to fuel reforming. In this paper, ceramic monolith and metal mesh as structured catalysts are investigated for catalytic autothermal reforming. When GHSV increases, each structured catalyst has better performances(hydrogen production, fuel conversion) than packed bed catalyst for autothermal reforming. The major causes seem to be the elevated heat and mass transfer, gas phase reaction and redistribution of packed bed due to high pressure drop.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.864-873
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• 2006

As fuel cells approach commercialization, hydrogen production becomes a critical step in the overall energy conversion pathway. Reforming is a process that produces a hydrogen-rich gas from hydrocarbon fuels. Hydrogen production via autothermal reforming (ATR) is particularly attractive for applications that demand a quick start-up and response time in a compact size. However, further research is required to optimize the performance of autothermal reformers and accurate models of reactor performance must be developed and validated. The design includes the requirement of accommodating a wide range of experimental set ups. Factors considered in the design of the reformer are capability to use multiple fuels, ability to vary stoichiometry, precise temperature and pressure control, implementation of enhancement methods, capability to implement variable catalyst positions and catalyst arrangement, ability to monitor and change reactant mixing, and proper implementation of data acquisition. A model of the system was first developed in order to calculate flowrates, heating, space velocity, and other important parameters needed to select the hardware that comprises the reformer. Predicted performance will be compared to actual data once the reformer construction is completed. This comparison will quantify the accuracy of the model and should point to areas where further model development is required. The end result will be a research tool that allows engineers to optimize hydrogen production via autothermal reformation.