Experimental study on ignition of pre-mixed gases with steam under catalytic reforming reaction

An experimental study for the examination of the effect of catalytic reform ing reaction on ignition of CH4, n-heptane or n-hexadecane mixed with steam and air was conducted, and a comparison with the ignition temperature of p ure fuel (CH4, n-heptane or n-hexadecane) mixed with steam and air was made . Unlike traditional catalytic combustion using catalysts such as precious metal Pt or Pd that directly catalyze reaction between oxygen and fuel in t his paper, the experimental results show that the hydrocarbon can be steam reformed to produce H-2 and CO by catalysis using Ni and rare-earth catalys ts at low temperatures. Because of high reactivity and high diffusivity of H-2 a small amount of hydrogen can greatly reduce the ignition temperature of flammable pre-mixed gases. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.