Catalytic Cracking of Diesel Fuel for Army Field Burners. Part 2. Demonstration of Long-Term Performance and Production of a Prototype Catalytic Cracking Unit

摘要

This is one of three reports of a study to develop an advanced fuel conversion process to produce gaseous fuel for field burners. In this process, a gaseous mixture of light hydrocarbons is produced via the catalytic cracking of logistic fuels like diesel and JP-8. This innovative concept leads to a new generation of field burners which are relatively simple, reliable, easy to start and environmentally favorable. This report (Part II) contains results of objectives to demonstrate the long-term performance (durability and reliability) of a catalytic cracking process developed during Phase I and to produce a prototype catalytic burning unit. These objectives were fully met successfully operating a catalytic cracking reactor unit operating on diesel for 300 hours. In addition, a working prototype catalytic burner was successfully developed by slightly modifying an existing M-2 burner unit. By modifying the design and material of the existing M-2 burner vaporizer and using an M-3 burner preheater, we achieved a relatively short preheating time of less than 5 minutes. The first report (Part I, NATICK/TR-00/004) was to experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of a catalytic crackling process to produce hydrogen and light hydrogen molecules from diesel with a minimal yield of heavy hydrocarbon residues. A third report (Part III, NATICK/TR-00/006) discusses results of the objective to develop a centralized fuel-processing unit for large-scale multiburner operation utilizing the catalytic cracking technology.