Hydrogen production by glycerol reforming in a two-fixed-bed reactor

A two-stage fixed bed system was used in the hydrogen production from glycerol reforming. The calcined dolomite catalyst was used in the first fixed bed, and the Nickel- based catalyst was used in the second fixed bed to produce hydrogen from the glycerol steam reforming. The results showed that the hydrogen yield and carbon conversion gradually increased with the temperature increasing. When the temperature exceeded 800 degrees C, the growth rate of hydrogen yield and carbon conversion decreased. As the space velocity increased, the hydrogen yield and carbon conversion gradually decreased. When the space velocity was greater than 2 h(-1), the decline rate of hydrogen yield and carbon conversion decreased rapidly. As the water-to-carbon ratio (S/C) increased, the hydrogen yield and carbon conversion gradually increased. The growth rate of hydrogen yield and carbon conversion became smaller when the S/C was more than 5. Compared with the single-stage fixed-bed reactor, the utilization of two-stage fixed-bed catalytic reaction system can not only increase the hydrogen yield and carbon conversion, but extend the life of the Nickel-based catalyst. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the hydrogen yield is as high as 84.3%, and the carbon conversion is as high as 88.23%. (C) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found that temperature, space velocity, and water-to-carbon ratio play a crucial role in affecting hydrogen yield and carbon conversion during glycerol steam reforming for hydrogen production. The utilization of a two-stage fixed-bed catalytic reaction system can increase hydrogen yield and carbon conversion compared to a single-stage fixed-bed reactor, while also extending the life of the Nickel-based catalyst.