(343f) Diesel Reforming Over Pyrochlore-Based Monolith

Diesel
Reforming over Pyrochlore-Based Monolith

Daniel J. Haynes¹,
David A. Berry¹, Dushyant Shekhawat¹,
Mark W. Smith², Mathew Seabaugh³, Rich Long³,
James J. Spivey ⁴

¹ National Energy Technology
Laboratory (NETL), Morgantown, WV 26505

²
URS Washington
Division, Morgantown, WV 26505

³ NexTech
Materials Ltd., Lewis Center, OH 43035

⁴ Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

NETL has
been conducting research in developing a highly active and selective catalyst
for the reforming of heavier hydrocarbon feed stocks (i.e. diesel) into a
hydrogen-rich synthesis gas.  This is a
necessary enabling technology for the commercialization of fuel cells among
other applications.  Previously, NETL
demonstrated 1000 hrs of continuous diesel reforming using a pyrochlore-based catalyst in powder form.  However it is essential to develop a structured form, which can
handle high gaseous throughput with minimal pressure drop.  Key
issues in the development of these structured forms include: homogeneity of
coating layers, adhesion of catalyst layers (coating stability), thermal
stability, and ensuring accessibility of the active sites on the catalytic
material.  In this study, a square
channel alumina based monolith structure (400 cpi) is first coated with an oxygen-conducting
support onto which an active pyrochlore phase was
then deposited.  These monoliths were
tested for the partial oxidation (POX) and oxidative steam reforming (OSR) of
pump diesel fuel.   While no deactivation
was observed over the duration of the tests (24h), the catalyst coating layer
was not optimized and therefore the lack of homogeneity resulted in insufficient
use of active phase.  Imaging of the
catalyst shows that there is less than optimum uniformity between the ZDC and
the Pyrochlore, and current efforts are directed toward improving the contact
between these two components of the catalyst.