Hydrogen based proton exchange membranes (PEM) fuel cells show good potential for production of electricity. However, widespread commercialization of PEM fuel cells will depend on cheap and environmentally benign production of hydrogen. Currently, hydrogen is mainly produced from syngas by the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction (CO+H2O↔CO2+H2) followed by preferential oxidation (PROX) of CO. Extens...

The ultimate chemical fate of the conventional fossil fuel combustion is always CO2 and H2O, two wellknown greenhouse gases responsible for contributing considerably to the global warming. We propose a radically new concept where CO2 and H2O are converted into carbon monoxide and hydrogen (individually) at one hand and into syngas (if present together; a more likely scenario) under mild experim...

Combustion instabilities in gas turbine engines often give rise to acoustic resonances. These resonances occur as manifestations of different acoustic modes, of which a single or multiple modes may be present. In this work, the acoustic behavior of a model gas turbine combustor, developed at DLR Stuttgart by Meier, was investigated using both syn(thetic) gas and standard hydrocarbon fuels. Syng...

The aim of this work is to select the best individual or combined controlled variables (CVs) for a natural gas to hydrocarbon liquids (GTL) process based on the idea of self-optimizing control. The objective function is to maximize the variable income of the plant, and two modes of operation are studied. In mode I, where the natural gas flow rate is given, there are three unconstrained degrees ...

The thermochemical processing of biomass is an alternative route for the manufacture of fuel-grade ethanol, in which the catalytic conversion of syngas to ethanol is a key step. The search for novel catalyst formulations, active sites and types of support is of current interest. In this work, the catalytic performance of an Rh/MCM-41 catalyst has been evaluated and compared with a typical Rh/Si...

In this study, a reformer model simulation to use refinery (Farashband refinery, Iran) waste natural gas. In the petroleum and allied sectors where natural gas is being encountered (in form of associated gas) without prior preparation for its positive use, its combustion (which takes place in flares, an equipment through which they are being disposed) has become a great problem because of its a...

Increasing demand for the production of renewable fuels has recently generated a particular interest in microbial production of butanol. Anaerobic bacteria, such as Clostridium spp., can naturally convert carbohydrates into a variety of primary products, including alcohols like butanol. The genetics of microorganisms like Clostridium acetobutylicum have been well studied and their solvent-produ...

Background: Biofuels may play a significant role in regard to carbon emission reduction in the transportation sector. Therefore, a thermochemical process for biomass conversion into synthetic chemicals and fuels is being developed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) by producing process energy to achieve a desirable high carbon dioxide reduction potential. Methods: In the bioliq proc...

Application of excessive animal manure to the land may cause some environmental problems such as eutrophication of surface waters, degradation of ground water quality, and threats to human health. This paper reports an experimental study on the technology of biomass gasification to treat animal waste by analysing the effects of key operating parameters on gasification. In this research, dairy m...

Magnesium nickel silicate (MNS) has been investigated as a catalyst to convert tars and light hydrocarbons to syngas (CO and H2) by steam reforming and CO2 reforming in the presence of H2S for biomass gasification process at NexTech Materials. It was observed that complete CH4 conversion could be achieved on MNS catalyst granules at 800–900 °C and a space velocity of 24,000 mL/g/h in a simulate...