Progetto Generatore di Idrogeno da Diesel per Celle a COmbustibile SOFC

Design of a diesel steam reforming (SR) Hydrogen Generator based unit, dedicated to a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) in a power range until 1 kWe, to support auxiliary power units (APUs) for naval applications. The unit will is able to convert n-dodecane, as a diesel surrogate, with a nominal syngas production of 0.5 Nm3/h and a maximum hydrogen production of 1.5 Nm3/h. The net size of the fuel processor is 80 cm (diameter) x 100 cm (height), in the enclosed Figure is shown the rendering view of the unit. The processing unit is coupled with heat exchanger, static mixer, water-dodecane and ricycle reservoirs, manual/automatic valves, pressure regulators/transducers, flow meters, and ancillaries. The integrated reactor consists of two coaxial tubes: the gas flows into the jacket, where a double (pre-reforming zone and reforming zone to avoid carbon deposition phenomena) catalyst bed is placed, with a total volume of about 200cm3; in the internal tube a double electric heater provides heat during the start up and the regime steps. The heat recovery management is assured by a graphite double heat exchanger (cooling of the product gas and condensing of the liquid components like water and dodecane non converted): a fully welded pack of plates, housed within an outer pressure vessel in the exchanger, offers a durable, compact with high heat transfer and high temperature capability (up to 900°C).