Gas Processing
GP001: Catalysts for Water Gas Shift reaction with coal-derived syngases in fixed-bed and catalytic membrane reactors
This project is important in providing key information on the performance of water gas shift (WGS) reacton catalysts on coal derived syngas streams. Currently available WGS shift catalysts operating at temperatures below 300 C have largely been developed for use with the steam reforming of natural gas. Their performance remains largely unproven or is less than optimum with coal derived syngas streams operating with higher CO, CO2 and H2S concentrations in the feed and product streams. In addition to the evaluation of conventional catalysts, work is also needed in developing improved catalysts as proposed in the project. The outcome of this work is also linked to and will provide data for the gas separation project, GS001.
GP002: Water gas shift reactions in high temperature membrane reactors
This project addresses the breakthrough needed to extend the operating temperature regime for WGS operations at higher temperatures (up to 800 C) that increase the power cycle efficiency, and which also enable operation of future power plant with high temperature fuel cells. The proposal to exploit the catalytic behaviour of porous metals also greatly simplifies the WGS unit operation by avoiding the use of conventional catalyst beds. In addition, an opportunity arises for the development of a hybrid reactor/hydrogen separator system when incorporated with thin film metal membranes, as proposed in the gas separation project, GS002. Projects GP002 and GS002 will be pursued together to achieve an integrated high temperature WGH/H2 separation module development.