DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF A CATALYTIC SMALL-SCALE POX REFORMER FOR H2 RICH SYNGAS PRODUCTION FROM NATURAL GAS

POX, is the partial, or incomplete, combustion of a fuel with a substoichiometric amount of air or oxygen. This partial oxidation process is highly exothermic and raises the reactants to a high temperature. For some applications, particularly small-scale configurations, a catalyst can be used to increase reaction rates at lowered reaction temperatures. POX reactor exit temperatures vary widely: the use of a catalyst can substantially reduce the operating temperature allowing the use of more common materials such as steel. Lower temperature conversion leads to less carbon monoxide (an important consideration for low temperature fuel cells), so that the shift reactor can be smaller. Lower temperature conversion will also increase system efficiency. This paper will discuss the design and manufacturing of a small-scale POX reformer where the reforming of NG produces a hydrogen rich syngas.