A Study of Butane Reforming over Nickel/Zirconia Anodes in SOFCs Running on Butane

摘要

In this paper we describe the results of a detailed study of butane steam reforming over nickel/zirconia cermet anodes. Both temperature programmed reaction and conventional steady-state catalytic measurements have been carried out, and both reactions have been studied using different oxidant/butane ratios over the full realistic operating temperature range of 650-950°C. The activity of the anode for butane reforming over the full range of operating conditions has been determined, together with reaction selectivity, and the degree of carbon deposition. Considerable information has been obtained concerning the relative rates of the carbon-forming and carbon-removal reactions for the different operating conditions. The propensity for carbon deposition on the anode has been shown to be significantly higher for butane than it is for methane. In addition to the normal reforming reactions, hydrogenolysis of butane to methane becomes a significant reaction at higher operating temperatures.