Experiments for combining nuclear heat with the methane steam-reforming process

Abstract

A high temperature reactor with the cooling gas helium leaving at an average temperature of 950°C offers an interesting possibility for combining nuclear heat with the methane steam-reforming process. However, the incorporation of nuclear heat into this process still requires comprehensive experimental and theoretical studies before an economic and technical optimization of a combined nuclear/chemical plant can be reached. Thus the EVA (single reforming tube, Einzelrohr-Versuchsanlage) pilot plant was set up to examine the methane steam-reforming process in a helium-heated conventional reforming tube. This report describes the plant and specifies some representative experimental results. It follows that convective helium heating is an appropriate method of transferring heat to the reforming tube. In addition, the report describes two accompanying experiments in smaller high pressure test plants and summarizes some of the measured results.