Hydrogen production for low-temperature fuel cells by reforming synthetic diesel fuel

The article presents the results of experimental and theoretical studies of steam reforming of synthetic diesel fraction (SDF) on the industrial methanation catalyst of the NIAP-07-01 brand in order to produce hydrogen for fuel cells. SDF (boiling point 180-290 °C), obtained by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis on the zeolite-containing catalyst Со/SiO₂/ZSM-5/Al₂O₃, consists of hydrocarbons C₁₁-C₁₈ (88%) and a small amount of the C₅-C₁₀ fraction (10.8%). It was found that at a ratio of H2O/C = 3.03 in the temperature range of 450-650 °C in the equilibrium state, the degree of SDF conversion is 100 %, on a nickel catalyst, complete SDF conversion is achieved at a temperature above 600 °C. The main conversion products are hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide, with the hydrogen concentration being significantly higher and methane concentration being lower than the calculated equilibrium values. The NIAP-07-01 catalyst exhibits high activity and selectivity for hydrogen. The maximum hydrogen yield is 279 g H₂/(kg SDF) at 650 °C, the H₂ concentration in the converted gas is 66.5%. Calculations have shown that to provide a 10 kW power plant based on a low-temperature fuel cell with a proton exchange membrane based on a Pt/C catalyst with hydrogen, the SDF consumption will be 2.8 kg/h.

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