Steam reforming catalyst and fuel cell system using the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steam reforming catalysts used in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) lack sufficient reactivity at temperatures below 700°C, necessitating high energy consumption for heating and mismatching with the intermediate operating temperature range of SOFCs, which leads to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A steam reforming catalyst with a carrier of LaNbO4 or La1-xSrxNbO4, supporting Ni and Co or Ru, which maintains catalytic activity at temperatures as low as 600°C, reducing energy consumption and by-product formation like carbon and methane, thereby enhancing reaction efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional steam reforming catalysts are used, then high catalytic activity can be achieved, but high reaction temperature (700°C or higher) is required leading to high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the catalyst by using a specific perovskite-type oxide structure (La1-xSrxNbO4) with controlled doping levels (x=0.05-0.20), which fundamentally alters the catalytic properties to enable high activity at lower temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite catalyst system combining Ni or Co metal particles with the perovskite-type oxide carrier (La1-xSrxNbO4), where the synergistic interaction between the metal and oxide components enables efficient catalysis at reduced temperatures
2Quantity of substance
If high temperature steam reforming is performed, then sufficient hydrogen production can be achieved, but carbon and methane by-products increase reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the reaction temperature parameter to an optimized range (500-700°C) that is lower than conventional methods, which suppresses unwanted side reactions that produce carbon and methane while still achieving sufficient hydrogen production through the enhanced catalytic activity of the perovskite-type oxide
3Use of energy by moving object
If reaction temperature is reduced below 700°C, then energy consumption decreases, but catalytic activity becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the catalyst's chemical and structural parameters by adopting the perovskite-type oxide structure with specific compositional ratios, which fundamentally enhances the catalytic properties to maintain high activity even at reduced temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a composite structure of metal particles (Ni or Co) dispersed on the perovskite-type oxide carrier, creating synergistic effects that boost catalytic activity at lower operating temperatures
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 enables efficient hydrogen production at lower temperatures, reducing energy consumption and improving the overall energy efficiency of the fuel cell system by maintaining high conversion rates while minimizing carbon production.
Implementation Method 1
a steam reforming catalyst that promotes production of hydrogen from a gas containing a hydrocarbon in the presence of steam
Implementation Method 2
Since a steam reforming reaction is an endothermic reaction, additional heating by an external heat source is necessary in order to maintain a reaction temperature
Implementation Method 3
autothermal steam reforming in which the steam reforming reaction is combined with a partial oxidation reaction, which is an exothermic reaction
Data Source
AI summary
A steam reforming catalyst that promotes production of hydrogen from a gas containing a hydrocarbon in the presence of steam includes a carrier and two or more catalyst metals supported on the carrier and including a first metal and a second metal. The first metal includes Ni, the second metal includes at least one of Co and Ru, and the carrier is represented by LaNbO4 or La1-xSrxNbO4 where x is in a range of 0<x≤0.12.