Cerium Catalysts in Steam-Assisted Pyrolysis of -Dodecane for Hypersonic Thermal Management

Abstract

Cerium was used as a catalyst for cracking in a cylindrical packed bed reactor, alone and then in conjunction with a commercially available platinum catalyst. The objective was to examine its suitability for use in potential thermal management systems. Cracking product distribution, fuel endotherm, and carbon deposition results for the cerium catalyst were compared to those reported previously for the commercial platinum catalyst in a similar packed bed reactor configuration. For some experiments, water was added to the fuel for steam assistance to the pyrolysis reactions in order to examine the effect of water on carbon production and endotherm. The cerium catalysts outperformed the platinum catalyst in terms of both increased endotherm and decreased carbon deposition. Steam assistance proved beneficial in decreasing carbon deposition, although at the cost of decreased endotherm. No appreciable product selectivity was observed for steam assistance with either catalyst. Finally, the overall reaction constant for each catalyst-steam addition case was compared to dodecane conversion in order to determine a relationship that can be applied in designing a reactor for use in a thermal management system.