NiO-Sr2TiO4 Catalyst Prevents Carbon Deposition in Hydrocarbon Reforming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydrocarbon gas reforming catalysts face challenges with carbon deposition, leading to reduced activity and efficiency, especially under high-pressure conditions, and are not suitable for producing synthesized gases with high carbon monoxide concentrations.

Innovation Solution

A hydrocarbon gas reforming catalyst precursor incorporating a NiO-Sr2TiO4 solid solution, where NiO is dissolved in Sr2TiO4, is used, with the ratio of NiO to Sr2TiO4 ranging from 2.2 to 13.5 parts by mol, and thermally treated at 1100°C to produce fine Ni and/or NiO grains, which effectively restrain carbon deposition during reactions with carbon dioxide and/or water vapor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a nickel catalyst is used for reforming hydrocarbon with water vapor, then the catalyst activity is maintained, but carbon deposition occurs on the catalyst leading to activity reduction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalyst activityVSAvoidcarbon deposition
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a ruthenium component as an intermediary substance that mediates between the nickel catalyst and carbon deposition. The ruthenium acts as a carbon deposition inhibitor that protects the nickel catalyst sites, allowing the reforming reaction to proceed while preventing carbon accumulation that would otherwise reduce catalyst activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite catalyst system combining nickel and ruthenium components. This composite structure leverages the high catalytic activity of nickel for reforming reactions while the ruthenium component provides carbon deposition inhibition, achieving both high activity and stability without requiring excessive water vapor ratios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a high water vapor to hydrocarbon ratio is used to prevent carbon deposition, then carbon deposition is restrained, but energy consumption increases due to excessive vaporization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarbon depositionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The ruthenium component serves as an intermediary that directly inhibits carbon deposition mechanisms on the catalyst surface. This eliminates the need to use excessive water vapor as a indirect method to prevent carbon deposition, thereby reducing the energy required for water vaporization while maintaining effective carbon deposition control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If reforming with carbon dioxide is used to produce high carbon monoxide concentration, then carbon monoxide yield is improved, but carbon deposition is most liable to occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarbon monoxide concentrationVSAvoidcarbon deposition
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ruthenium component acts as a mediator that specifically counteracts the carbon deposition tendency inherent in carbon dioxide reforming reactions. It provides a protective effect that allows the process to operate at conditions favorable for high carbon monoxide production while preventing the carbon deposition that would otherwise occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful carbon deposition tendency of carbon dioxide reforming into a beneficial process by using the ruthenium component to control and direct carbon management. The system leverages the carbon dioxide reforming reaction for high carbon monoxide production while the ruthenium component manages the carbon deposition issue, turning a problematic reaction into a useful process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Adaptability or versatility

If a nickel catalyst is used for reforming with carbon dioxide or combination reforming, then the catalyst can be used, but stable operation is difficult due to high carbon deposition tendency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereforming reaction capabilityVSAvoidoperational stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite catalyst system combining nickel and ruthenium components. This composite structure leverages the high catalytic activity of nickel for reforming reactions while the ruthenium component provides carbon deposition inhibition, achieving both high activity and stability without requiring excessive water vapor ratios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The catalyst prevents carbon deposition even under high-pressure conditions, allowing for efficient production of synthesized gases with high hydrogen and carbon monoxide ratios, maintaining catalyst activity and preventing reaction tube clogging.

Implementation Method 1

thermally treated at 1100°C to produce fine Ni and/or NiO grains

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Implementation Method 2

effectively restrain carbon deposition during reactions with carbon dioxide and/or water vapor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP2441517B1Hydrocarbon gas reforming catalyst, method for producing same, and method for producing synthetic gas
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 MURATA MFG CO LTD
  • EP2441517B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2441517B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP2441517B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

There are provided a catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon gas capable of efficiently producing hydrogen and carbon monoxide by allowing a hydrocarbon source material gas and carbon dioxide and/or water vapor to react while restraining the deposition of carbon, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of manufacturing a synthesized gas. A substance containing a NiO-Sr2Tio4 solid solution in which NiO is dissolved in Sr2TiO4 is made to be a hydrocarbon gas reforming catalyst for producing a synthesized gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reforming a hydrocarbon gas with use of carbon dioxide and/or water vapor. The ratio of NiO in the NiO-Sr2TiO4 solid solution is set to be a ratio of 2.2 to 13.5 parts by mol relative to 100 parts by mol of Sr2TiO4. Also, a substance containing SrTiO3, SrCO3, and Ni and/or NiO that are produced by allowing carbon dioxide to act on the NiO-Sr2TiO4 solid solution is made to be a hydrocarbon gas reforming catalyst.