Fuel constituent effects on fuel reforming properties for fuel cell applications

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) 2009-05, Vol.88 (5), p.817-825
• Main Authors: Shekhawat, Dushyant, Berry, David A., Haynes, Daniel J., Spivey, James J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ADDITIVES; ALKANES; Applied sciences; AROMATICS; CARBON; Diesel fuel; Diesel fuel composition; Diesel fuel, Oxidative steam reforming, Fuel reforming, Diesel fuel composition, Partial oxidation; DIESEL FUELS; Energy; ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; FUEL CELLS; Fuel reforming; HYDROAROMATICS; HYDROCARBONS; MIXTURES; Oxidative steam reforming; Partial oxidation; PRODUCTION; SATURATION; SULFUR COMPOUNDS; VELOCITY
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2008.10.030

The effect of different types of compounds commonly found in diesel fuel (e.g., paraffins, naphthenes, and aromatics), as well as their chemical structure (e.g., branched versus linear paraffins) on fuel reforming has been investigated. Diesel reforming is very complicated because diesel is a complex mixture of hundreds of compounds with greatly different reactivities. The syngas production rates at the same conditions were observed in this order: paraffins > naphthenes ≫ aromatics. Additionally, the type of reforming performed (OSR, CPOX, or SR) as well as the process parameters (space velocity and reaction temperature) significantly affected the syngas production rates as well as carbon formation. The reactivity of one fuel component can affect the conversion pattern of others, e.g., overall yields from the reforming of a fuel mixture are not additive of yields from individual fuel components, rather the more reactive component is consumed first. Furthermore, the type of substituent in aromatics and naphthenes, the carbon chain length in n-paraffins, branching in paraffins, and degree of aromatic saturation affect the overall hydrocarbon conversion, syngas selectivity, and carbon formation. The presence of sulfur compounds in the fuel caused significant drops in H 2 yields compared to CO yields.