Development of Inorganic Membranes for Hydrogen Separation

This paper presents information and data relative to recent advances in the development at Oak Ridge National Laboratory of porous inorganic membranes for high-temperature hydrogen separation. The Inorganic Membrane Technology Laboratory, which was formerly an organizational element of Bechtel Jacobs Company, LLC, was formally transferred to Oak Ridge National Laboratory on August 1, 2002, as a result of agreements reached between Bechtel Jacobs Company, the management and integration contractor at the East Tennessee Technology Park (formerly the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant or Oak Ridge K-25 Site); UT-Battelle, the management and operating contractor of Oak Ridge National Laboratory; and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge Operations Office. Research emphasis during the last year has been directed toward the development of high-permeance (high-flux) and high-separation-factor metal-supported membranes. Performance data for these membranes are presented and are compared with performance data for membranes previously produced under this program and for membranes produced by other researchers. New insights into diffusion mechanisms are included in the discussion. Fifteen products, many of which are the results of research sponsored by the DOE Fossil Energy Advanced Research Materials Program, have been declared unclassified and have been approved for commercial production

A Universal Mathematical Model for a New Combined-Cycle

ABSTRACT A Universal Mathematical Model (UMM) has been developed and applied to a combined-cycle, fossil-fuel power system. The UMM includes static and dynamic models of the system. The static model allows for thermodynamic and thermochemical analyses of the basic system components (reformer, turbine, membrane separator, fuel cell, air compressor, heat exchanger, and other components) and the entire system. The dynamic model provides for mode-to-mode (a partial load to a full or nominal load) time determination for the individual system components and for the entire system. System transient modes were studied, and it was determined that the reforming reactor transition time should be no less than 200 sec, which results in a system mode-tomode transition time of three to four minutes

A Universal Mathematical Model for a New Combined-Cycle

ABSTRACT A universal mathematical model (UMM) has been developed and applied to the LAJ (for Labinov, Armstrong, and Judkins) cycle, a new combined-cycle, fossil-fuel power system. The UMM includes static and dynamic models of the system. The static model allows for thermodynamic and thermochemical analyses of the basic system components (reformer, turbine, membrane separator, fuel cell, air compressor, heat exchanger, and other components) and the entire system. Equilibrium compositions of reforming products are defined by minimizing Gibbs free energy of the mixtures using the Lagrangian multiplier method. The dependence of the main system parameters on pressure (P), temperature (T), and water-to -methane molar ratios (N) at the steam reformer have been evaluated. For selected reforming parameters, viz., P = 4.0 MPa and T = 1200 K, the degree of methane conversion is near 95% with N = 5. However, in view of mass and size limitations on equipment, a lower value of N = 3 is preferred, in which case the degree of methane conversion is 88%. The dependence of the system static model parameters on N has been investigated, and economic characteristics of the model have been evaluated for an output power of 250 kW. It is shown that when, N = 3, the fuel cost contribution to overall electricity costs is 1 cent/kWh. INTRODUCTION A combined-cycle, fossil -fuel power plant is a complex system composed of a considerable number of components. The system operation efficiency depends not only on the efficiency of each component but also on optimal integration and interaction of components. These optimal characteristics must be maintained when the system passes from operation under a nominal load to operation under a partial load. Therefore, mode-to-mode time must meet the user's demands. A mathematical simulation mode

Carbon Formation and Metal Dusting in Hot-Gas Cleanup Systems of Coal Gasifiers

There are several possible materials/systems degradation modes that result from gasification environments with appreciable carbon activities. These processes, which are not necessarily mutually exclusive, include carbon deposition, carburization, metal dusting, and CO disintegration of refractories. Carbon formation on solid surfaces occurs by deposition from gases in which the carbon activity (a sub C) exceeds unity. The presence of a carbon layer CO can directly affect gasifier performance by restricting gas flow, particularly in the hot gas filter, creating debris (that may be deposited elsewhere in the system or that may cause erosive damage of downstream components), and/or changing the catalytic activity of surfaces

Characterization of Field-Exposed Iron Aluminide Hot Gas Filters

The use of a power turbine fired with coal-derived synthesis gas will require some form of gas cleaning in order to protect turbine and downstream components from degradation by erosion, corrosion, or deposition. Hot-gas filtration is one form of cleaning that offers the ability to remove particles from the gases produced by gasification processes without having to substantially cool and, possibly, reheat them before their introduction into the turbine. This technology depends critically on materials durability and reliability, which have been the subject of study for a number of years (see, for example, Alvin 1997, Nieminen et al. 1996, Oakey et al. 1997, Quick and Weber 1995, Tortorelli, et al. 1999)