* Covers the timely topic of fuel cells and hydrogen-based energy
from its fundamentals to practical applications

* Serves as a resource for practicing researchers and as a text
in graduate-level programs

* Tackles crucial aspects in light of the new directions in the
energy industry, in particular how to integrate fuel processing
into contemporary systems like nuclear and gas power plants

* Includes homework-style problems

KE LIU, PhD, MBA, is the Principal Scientist and Project Leader of the Energy and Propulsion Technologies Division of GE Global Research Center, working on different technologies related to gasification, IGCC, syngas, and fuel conversion. Currently, he leads a team of engineers to develop the dry feeding technology for next-generation GE gasifier for high-moisture, low-rank coal and biomass gasification. Dr. Liu started his career at Exxon-Mobil and then UTC Fuel Cells, working on various fuel and H2 production technologies. He is not only a leading expert on energy, fuels, and gasification, but also an industrial leader who led many large R&D projects funded by DOE and large U.S. energy corporations such as GE, Shell-UTC, and Exxon-Mobil. A recipient of numerous awards, including the 2006 National Emerald Honors Special Recognition Award, Dr. Liu has served as a board member and program chair of International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, a board member of the Energy Center of CalTech (PEER), and the associate editor of the Energy and Fuels Journal.

CHUNSHAN SONG, PhD, is a Professor of Fuel Science and Chemical Engineering and the Director of the EMS Energy Institute at Pennsylvania State University. A recipient of numerous awards, he has been extensively published, and his research on clean fuels and catalysis has been funded by government and industry. Also, Dr. Song has served as chair for the ACS Division of Petroleum Chemistry; chair for ACS Fuel Chemistry Division; and advisory board chair and program chair for International Pittsburgh Coal Conference.

VELU SUBRAMANI, PhD, is a Research Scientist working for the BP Refining and Logistics Technology team. He has over fifteen years of research experience in heterogeneous catalysis for fine chemicals synthesis, energy production, and environmental protection. He is the recipient of research fellowships from Switzerland and the Science and Technology Agency (STA) of Japan. Dr. Subramani is the author of over fifty peer-reviewed articles in international journals and the author or co-author of several patents. He served as the program chair for the ACS Division of Fuel Chemistry.

Covers cutting-edge technology in the production and purification of syngas and hydrogen

The world's insatiable appetite for energy has highlighted the demand for a continued supply of inexpensive clean energy that is not only sustainable, but also quells concerns about greenhouse-gas emissions. Hydrogen, an energy carrier, and syngas, a building block in alternative fuels, are two such components. In this comprehensive resource, the authors discuss the state-of-the-art technologies for the production and purification of syngas and hydrogen, including:

• Gasification

• Reforming and catalytic partial oxidation

• Water-gas shift

• Desulfurization

• Membrane purification

The authors describe how to produce syngas and hydrogen from a wide range of feedstocks, along with the chemistry, catalysis, kinetics, and thermodynamics of the reactions involved and engineering of the processes.

This book serves as an essential resource to both academic and industrial readers involved in R&D in chemical, oil, and energy industries. All readers of this reference book will acquire the fundamental aspects of the new directions in the energy industry with syngas and hydrogen-based fuels.

• Covers the timely topic of fuel cells and hydrogen-based energy from its fundamentals to practical applications
• Serves as a resource for practicing researchers and as a text in graduate-level programs
• Tackles crucial aspects in light of the new directions in the energy industry, in particular how to integrate fuel processing into contemporary systems like nuclear and gas power plants
• Includes homework-style problems

Preface xiii

Contributors xv

1. Introduction to Hydrogen and Syngas Production and Purification Technologies 1
Chunshan Song

1.1 Importance of Hydrogen and Syngas Production 1

1.2 Principles of Syngas and Hydrogen Production 4

1.3 Options for Hydrogen and Syngas Production 6

1.4 Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells 8

1.5 Fuel Processing for Fuel Cells 9

1.6 Sulfur Removal 10

1.7 CO₂ Capture and Separation 11

1.8 Scope of the Book 11

Acknowledgments 12

References 12

2. Catalytic Steam Reforming Technology for the Production of Hydrogen and Syngas 14
Velu Subramani, Pradeepkumar Sharma, Lingzhi Zhang, and Ke Liu

2.1 Introduction 14

2.2 Steam Reforming of Light Hydrocarbons 17

2.2.1 Steam Reforming of Natural Gas 17

2.2.2 Steam Reforming of C₂C₄ Hydrocarbons 36

2.3 Steam Reforming of Liquid Hydrocarbons 46

2.3.1 Chemistry 46

2.3.2 Thermodynamics 47

2.3.3 Catalyst 52

2.3.4 Kinetics 58

2.3.5 Mechanism 61

2.3.6 Prereforming 61

2.4 Steam Reforming of Alcohols 65

2.4.1 Steam Reforming of Methanol (SRM) 65

2.4.2 Steam Reforming of Ethanol (SRE) 77

2.5 Carbon Formation and Catalyst Deactivation 106

2.6 Recent Developments in Reforming Technologies 109

2.6.1 Microreactor Reformer 109

2.6.2 Plate Reformer 110

2.6.3 Membrane Reformer 110

2.6.4 Plasma Reforming (PR) 112

2.7 Summary 112

References 112

3. Catalytic Partial Oxidation and Autothermal Reforming 127
Ke Liu, Gregg D. Deluga, Anders Bitsch-Larsen, Lanny D. Schmidt, and Lingzhi Zhang

3.1 Introduction 127

3.2 Natural Gas Reforming Technologies: Fundamental Chemistry 130

3.2.1 ATR 130

3.2.2 Homogeneous POX 132

3.2.3 CPO 133

3.3 Development/Commercialization Status of ATR, POX, and CPO Reformers 136

3.4 CPO Catalysts 138

3.4.1 Nickel-Based CPO Catalysts 138

3.4.2 Precious Metal CPO Catalysts 142

3.5 CPO Mechanism and Kinetics 146

3.5.1 Ni Catalyst Mechanism and Reactor Kinetics Modeling 146

3.5.2 Precious Metal Catalyst Mechanism and Reactor Kinetics Modeling 147

3.6 Start-Up and Shutdown Procedure of CPO 149

3.7 CPO of Renewable Fuels 150

3.8 Summary 151

Acknowledgments 151

References 151

4. Coal Gasification 156
Ke Liu, Zhe Cui, and Thomas H. Fletcher

4.1 Introduction to Gasification 156

4.2 Coal Gasification History 158

4.3 Coal Gasification Chemistry 160

4.3.1 Pyrolysis Process 161

4.3.2 Combustion of Volatiles 163

4.3.3 Char Gasification Reactions 164

4.3.4 AshSlag Chemistry 166

4.4 Gasification Thermodynamics 169

4.5 Gasification Kinetics 173

4.5.1 Reaction Mechanisms and the Kinetics of the Boudouard Reaction 174

4.5.2 Reaction Mechanisms and the Kinetics of the Water-Gas Reaction 175

4.6 Classification of Different Gasifiers 176

4.7 GE (Texaco) Gasification Technology with CWS Feeding 178

4.7.1 Introduction to GE Gasification Technology 178

4.7.2 GE Gasification Process 179

4.7.3 Coal Requirements of the GE Gasifier 184

4.7.4 Summary of G…