A methane reformer with long life and method of use

By designing the structure of the main airway and branch airway in the methane reformer, the airflow is forced to automatically change the flow direction when local blockage caused by carbon deposits, the problems of decreased reaction speed and reduced reactant conversion rate caused by carbon deposits are solved, and the service life of the reformer is extended and the high hydrogen concentration is maintained.

CN116854038BActive Publication Date: 2025-04-29CHINA UNIV OF MINING & TECH
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202310562906.1
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-05-18
Publication Date
2025-04-29
Estimated Expiration
2043-05-18

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

During the reaction, the methane reformer causes a decrease in the reaction rate and the reactant conversion rate to reduce the reaction rate, which in turn shortens the life of the reformer. At the same time, increasing the water-carbon ratio to reduce the carbon deposit will increase energy consumption and reduce hydrogen concentration.

Method used

A methane reformer with a main airway and a branch airway is designed. By setting multiple branch airways inside the reformer, the airflow is forced to automatically change the flow direction when carbon deposits cause local blockage, extending the reaction position, thereby extending the service life of the reformer.

Benefits of technology

It effectively extends the service life of the methane reformer, avoids the decrease in reaction speed and the reduction in reactant conversion rate due to carbon deposits, and improves the service life without reducing the hydrogen concentration.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of hydrogen energy technology, and in particular, is a methane reformer with a long life and a method of use. The reformer has a structure composed of a main airway and a branch airway, the airway is filled with catalyst particles, and truncated cone-shaped branch airways are arranged at intervals along the airflow direction. The diameter of the main airway is smoothly reduced along the gas flow direction, and the airway is filled with inert particles to make the porosity inside and outside the airway the same. The reformer disclosed in the present invention is based on carbon deposition dynamics, porous catalytic regional structural evolution, and porous medium fluid mechanics theory. While not changing the external conditions of the reformer and the reformer conversion rate, by arranging the main airway and the branch airway inside the reformer, after carbon deposition causes local blockage, the airflow is forced to automatically change its flow direction and postpone to the next branch airway, automatically adjusting the main position where the reforming reaction occurs, and extending the service life of the reformer.
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Citation Information

Patent Citations

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  • Direct hydrocarbon fueled solid oxide fuel cells with coking free on-cell reformer

    KR1020160120363A