SYNTHESIS OF HCN IN A SOLID-ELECTROLYTE-CELL REACTOR

A kinetic model was prepared for the simulation of the production of H CN in a yttria-stabilized-zirconia cell that uses CH4-NH3 mixtures as fuel. The model considers 14 surface reactions occuring simultaneously at the anode. The effects of temperature, O2-flux, inlet gas composit ion, and inlet gas velocity on the HCN yield and on the overall exothe rmicity of the system were examined. It was found that the cell can op erate without external heat supply if the CH4/NH3 feed ratio is higher than 1.25. Two different cell designs were examined, one in which the anode is inside the zirconia tube, and one in which air flows inside the tube and the fuel flows outside perpendicular to the direction of air flow. The latter design exhibits certain additional advantages ove r the traditional tubular cell design.