The Influence of the Distributed Reaction Regime on Fuel Reforming Conditions

Abstract

Previous works have demonstrated that the distributed reaction regime improved the reformate product distribution, prevented soot formation, and favored higher hydrogen yields. The experimental data from these works and additional literature focusing on individual reactions provided an insight into how the distributed reaction regime influenced the reformate product composition. The distributed reaction regime was achieved through the controlled entrainment of hot reactive products (containing heat, carbon dioxide, steam and reactive radicals and species) into the premixed fuel air mixture, elongating the chemical time and length scales. High velocity jets enhanced mixing, while shortening the time and length scales associated with transport. As some steam and carbon dioxide will form in the reforming process, it was theorized that the mixing of the entrained flow (containing heat, carbon dioxide, and steam) into the premixed fuel air mixture promoted dry and steam reforming reactions, improving conversion. The available information on chemical kinetics of reformation is rather limited. In this work, the activity and timescales of these reactions were determined from the available experimental data. This was then used to assess which reactions were active under Distributed Reforming conditions. These data help in the design and development of advanced reformers using distributed reforming conditions.