ABSTRACT

Synthesis of hydrogen and/or syngas by catalytic reforming of methane and a natural-gas-like mixture has been investigated adopting our newly developed four-component catalyst (Ni-Ce₂O₃-Pt-Rh) supported on a ceramic fiber carrier in thin plate shape. The catalyst exhibited extraordinary high catalytic activity in both carbon dioxide reforming and steam reforming of methane. These reactions were markedly enhanced by combining catalytic combustion of ethane or propane on the same catalyst surface, on which the reforming reaction was taking place. By compensation of large endothermic reaction heat in the reforming reaction with large endothermic reaction heat, even at lower furnace temperature. Increase in exergy in the hydrogen synthesis was estimated in both equilibrium condition and the term involving space-time factor.