Development of the monoblock converter for the hydrocarbon fuel with hydrogen extraction from the reaction zone

• Main Authors: Veniamin B. Avakov, Dzhavdat A. Khairov, Igor K. Landgraf, Sergey A. Zhivulko, Alexander A. Sokolov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Krylov State Research Centre 2017-05-01
• Series: Труды Крыловского государственного научного центра
• Subjects: hydrogen power; fuel processor; converter; hydrogen production; steam-based conversion; membrane release; diffusing separator; hydrogen extraction from the reaction zone
• Online Access: http://transactions-ksrc.ru/eng/archive/Development-of-the-monoblock-converter-for-the-hydrocarbon-fuel-with-hydrogen-extraction-from-the-reaction-zone/

Object and purpose of research: The purpose of this work is to develop and implement a technology totally new for the Russian industry: production of hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels. This technology will be the basis for a compact, reliable and highly efficient device, i.e. the converter ensuring the production of super-pure hydrogen through the steam-based conversion of hydrocarbon fuels with hydrogen extraction from the reaction zone. Materials and methods: The development of this technology was based on the Krylov State Research Centre SET Branch’s own experience in development of hydrogen production systems, as well as on both Russian and international experience in this area. This work included detailed structural calculations and working out the concept of the monoblock converter for hydrogen production, as well as traced out the plan of further experimental and research activities in support of the converter development. Main results: This work is the first-ever in Russia to justify (by means of design & calculation methods) and practically implement the technology (selected as per the results of the analysis) of super-pure hydrogen production through steam-based conversion, with hydrogen extraction from the reaction zone. This is the most efficient technology of hydrogen production from hydrocarbon fuels. The paper discusses only the first stage of work, i.e. development of technology, working out the concept of the converter and tracing out the plan of experimental activities. The work is still in progress, and its final result will be manu- facturing and prototype development of a monoblock converter implementing this technology. Conclusion: Implementation of this technology involves the development of a complex and multi-functional device, so the further work will mean a lot of technical challenges to face and experimental studies to perform.The monoblock converter of hydrocarbon fuels with hydrogen extraction from the reaction zone could become one of the main element of the power plants with an electrochemical generator, which will allow efficient conversion of the fuel energy into electricity, thus paving way to a wide application of these systems in both stationary and mobile power plants.