A Versatile Converter of Liquid Hydrocarbons for the Production of Reducing and Carbonization Atmospheres

Abstract

Abstract We herein report the results of our investigation into the modes of catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) of liquid fuels and air mixtures to yield endothermic (endo) gas on a pilot-scale installation containing ~ 0.45 cm3 catalytic bed. This endothermic gas serves as a protective atmosphere in thermochemical steel treatment processes. Seven liquid hydrocarbons (LHs) are investigated, namely isooctane, 91 RON (research octane number) and 95 RON gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, and naphtha. All experiments are performed using our previously developed reactor, where the reactions of natural gas/air mixtures were previously studied. In the present study, we report that the LH conversion products reached an equilibrium state similar to that of methane and natural gas conversion with an atomic C/O ratio of ~ 1.0 in the mixture. Furthermore, working regimes between 850 and 950 °C are examined as typical reaction conditions for industrial endo gas generators, and in all cases, the required gas quality is achieved. However, we found that gasoline and diesel are the most suitable LH feedstock for endo gas generation.