Experimental optimization analysis on operating conditions of CO removal process from hydrogen-rich reformate

Abstract

The catalytic effects of CO preferential oxidation and methanation catalysts for deep CO removal under different operating conditions (temperature, space velocity, water content, etc.) are systematically studied from the aspects of CO content, CO selectivity, and hydrogen loss index. Results indicate that the 3 wt% Ru/Al2O3 preferential oxidation catalysts reduce CO content to below 10 ppm with a high hydrogen consumption of 11.6–15.7%. And methanation catalysts with 0.7 wt% Ru/Al2O3 also exhibit excellent CO removal performance at 220–240 °C without hydrogen loss. Besides, NiClx/CeO2 methanation catalysts possess the characteristics of high space velocity, high activity, and high water-gas resistance, and can maintain the CO content at close to 20 ppm. Based on these experimental results, the coupling scheme of combining NiClx/CeO2 methanation catalysts (low cost and high reaction space velocity) with 0.7 wt% Ru/Al2O3 methanation catalysts (high activity) to reduce CO content to below10 ppm is proposed.