Experimental Plant for Hydrogen Production via Natural Gas Catalytic Partial Oxidation

摘要

The Italian Ministry of Scientific Research has been supporting a research programme for promoting R&D on advanced electric and hybrid vehicles powered by solid polymer fuel cell. In this framework ENEA, the Italian National Agency for New Technology Energy and Environment, in cooperation with Institute CNR-TAE and Universities, is carrying out research activities to study, among others, fuel processor technology for vehicle and small stationary applications. Among various reforming processes, the catalytic partial oxidation one was selected for its faster dynamic response and compactness. Natural gas fuel was chosen mainly for its wide distribution and low emissions that may lead to its increasing use in the automotive sector. A testing plant called MEPOX (i.e. "MEthane Partial OXidation plant"), with a capacity of 5 Nm~3/h of H_2 produced, has been designed to test and evaluate the performance of the complete process in term of CO content and dynamic response to capacity changes and to frequent start-ups and shut-downs. The unit consists of a Partial Oxidation reactor, followed by two shift (high and low temperature) reactors and a final reactor for selective oxidation of residue carbon monoxide. In order to support the design and to improve the experimental activity, a simulation model has been developed. Starting from a detailed mathematical model of the Partial Oxidation Reactor, the simulation has been extended to the whole fuel processor and integrated with the fuel cell model. The paper describes the plant, the simulation model and the process operating conditions.