A new landfill gas-based reforming catalytic processing system for the conversion of gaseous hydrocarbons, such as incoming methane to hydrogen and carbon oxide mixtures, is described and analyzed. The exit synthesis gas (syn-gas) is fed to power effectively high-temperature fuel cells such as SOFC types for combined efficient electricity generation. The current research work is also referred on the description and design aspects of permreactors (permeable reformers) carrying the same type of landfill gas-reforming reactions. Membrane reactors is a new technology that can be applied efficiently in such systems. Membrane reactors seem to perform better than the nonmembrane traditional reactors. The aim of this research includes turnkey system and process development for the landfill-based power generation and fuel cell industries. Also, a discussion of the efficient utilization of landfill and waste type resources for combined green-type/renewable power generation with increased processing capacity and efficiency via fuel cell systems is taking place. Moreover, pollution reduction is an additional design consideration in the current catalytic processors fuel cell cycles. 1. Introduction During our earlier IASTED papers (PGRES, ‘02, Marina Del Ray, CA; modeling and simulation, ‘03, Palm Springs, CA), we had the opportunity to describe and analyze preliminary results on catalytic processors for the steam-reforming reaction of methane and natural gas, for use in fuel cell systems such as SOFC units [1, 2]. The current paper is a continuation of that research effort by giving emphasis in the so-called “landfill gas power” and “bioenergy” systems. We study the use of landfill gases (landfill-generated feedstocks) as sources for electricity and heat generation using fuel cells of the SOFC type. With the introduction of landfill-based gases rich in methane, for the production of intermediate synthesis gas we propose an attractive process in “green power” and “biogas/landfill energy” based systems. A current emphasis on the development and commercialization of such systems for electricity and heat generation applications is observed. Such installations start to exist currently mainly in US, Europe, Japan, China, and other developing countries. The above presented energy systems require the development and use of an effective catalytic reformer utilizing active metals such as Ni, Ru, Rh, Cr, or bimetallic combinations of those. Earth metal enrichment in the catalyst such as with Ca, Mg, La, and K promotes the catalyst stability on stream and minimizes
References
[1]
Z. Ziaka and S. Vasileiadis, “Catalytic reforming -shift processors for hydrogen generation and continuous fuel cell operation,” in Proceedings of IASTED-Power and Energy Systems, pp. 360–365, Marina Del Ray, Calif, USA, May 2002.
[2]
S. Vasileiadis and Z. Ziaka-Vasileiadou, “Biomass reforming process for integrated solid oxide-fuel cell power generation,” Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 59, no. 22-23, pp. 4853–4859, 2004.
[3]
S. Vasileiadis and Z. Ziaka, “Alternative generation of H2, CO and H2, CO2 mixtures from steam-carbon dioxide reforming of methane and the water gas shift with permeable (membrane) reactors,” Chemical Engineering Communications, vol. 176, pp. 247–252, 1999.
[4]
J. Xu and G. F. Froment, “Methane steam reforming, methanation and water-gas shift: I. Intrinsic kinetics,” AIChE Journal, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 88–96, 1989.
[5]
J. P. van Hook, “Methane-steam reforming,” Catalysis Reviews: Science and Engineering, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1–51, 1980.
[6]
J. R. Rostrup-Nielsen, “Sulfur-passivated nickel catalysts for carbon-free steam reforming of methane,” Journal of Catalysis, vol. 85, no. 1, pp. 31–43, 1984.
[7]
J. R. Rostrup-Nielsen, “Coking on nickel catalysts for steam reforming of hydrocarbons,” Journal of Catalysis, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 184–201, 1974.
[8]
J. T. Richardson and S. A. Paripatyadar, “Carbon dioxide reforming of methane with supported rhodium,” Applied Catalysis, vol. 61, no. 1, pp. 293–309, 1990.
[9]
E. Ruckenstein and Y. H. Hu, “Combination of CO2 reforming and partial oxidation of methane over NiO/MgO solid solution catalysts,” Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 37, no. 5, pp. 1744–1747, 1998.
[10]
Z. D. Ziaka and S. P. Vasileiadis, Reactors for Fuel Cells and Environmental Energy Systems, Xlibris Publishing, Indianapolis, Ind, USA, 2009.
[11]
S. P. Vasileiadis and Z. D. Ziaka, “Environmentally benign hydrocarbon processing applications of single and integrated permreactors,” in Reaction Engineering for Pollution Prevention, pp. 247–304, Elsevier Science, Philadelphia, Pa, USA, 2000.
[12]
Z. D. Ziaka and S. P. Vasileiadis, “Reactor-membrane permeator cascade for enhanced production and recovery of H2 and CO2 from the catalytic methane-steam reforming reaction,” Chemical Engineering Communications, vol. 156, pp. 161–200, 1996.
[13]
D. L. Klass, Biomass for Renewable Energy, Fuels, and Chemicals, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif, USA, 1988.
[14]
S. Vasileiadis and Z. Ziaka, “Efficient catalytic reactors-processors for fuel cells and synthesis applications,” in Proceedings of the 17th International Symposium on Chemical Reaction Engineering, Hong Kong, August 2002, paper no. 13.
[15]
R. Rautenbach and K. Welsch, “Treatment of landfill gas by gas permeation—pilot plant results and comparison to alternatives,” Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 87, no. 1-2, pp. 107–118, 1994.
[16]
M. Tsimpa, Biogas usages in Greece for energy generation, trends and opportunities [M.S. thesis], Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece, 2010.
