Production of hydrogen and carbon nanofilaments using a novel reactor configuration: hydrodynamic study and experimental results

Abstract

A novel reactor configuration combining two beds, a central fluidized bed and an annular mobile bed, was designed for the production of hydrogen and carbon nanofilaments via dry reforming of gases produced from the pyrolysis of plastic waste. This combination allows for easy recovery of these nanomaterials and, since the mixture of catalyst and carbon formed is continuously fluidized, it also prevents blockage. Understanding the hydrodynamics is crucial for choosing the optimal operating conditions. Thus, a cold mock-up unit of the same size has been built and used. Since the gases produced by plastic pyrolysis are mainly composed of unsaturated hydrocarbons, the prototype reactor setup has been operated using ethylene as a surrogate molecule. The preliminary experimental results of the reactor operation with ethylene obtained so far are very promising and confirm the operability of the process. Next step is to operate continuously for longer time and reach a production of 1kg/h of carbon nanofilaments.