This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Development and Testing of a Prototype Microwave Plasma Reactor for Hydrogen Recovery from Sabatier Waste Methane
Technical Paper
2009-01-2467
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
In the Sabatier reactor, oxygen is recovered (as water) by hydrogenation of carbon dioxide. One half of the reacted hydrogen is contained within the product water, the other half is used to form methane (CH4). Hydrogen resupply requirements for the oxygen recovery process can be minimized by reclamation of hydrogen from the methane waste. To this end, we have developed effective methods for the recovery of hydrogen from CH4 using a microwave plasma reactor. By selectively promoting the oligomerization reaction which forms hydrogen and acetylene, up to 75% of the waste hydrogen can be recovered in a manner which minimizes the carbon fouling and carbon build-up problems which drastically reduce the long-term viability of traditional methane pyrolysis methods using fixed bed and fluidized bed reactors. This paper describes the development and testing of the prototype microwave plasma reactor which represents the first generation of a novel and innovative technology for hydrogen recovery from Sabatier waste.
Recommended Content
Authors
Citation
Atwater, J., Wheeler, R., Hadley, N., Dahl, R. et al., "Development and Testing of a Prototype Microwave Plasma Reactor for Hydrogen Recovery from Sabatier Waste Methane," SAE Technical Paper 2009-01-2467, 2009, https://doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-2467.Also In
References
- Knox, J.C. Campbell, M. Murdoch, K. Miller, L.A. Jeng, F. Integrated Test and Evaluation of a 4-Bed Molecular Sieve (4BMS) Carbon Dioxide Removal System (CDRA), Mechanical Compressor Engineering Development Unit (EDU), and Sabatier Engineering Development Unit (EDU) SAE Paper No. 2005-01-2864 , presented 35th International Conference on Environmental Systems 2005
- Murdoch, K. Fort, J. Barone, M. Holder, D. Rotary Drum Separator and Pump for the Sabatier Carbon Dioxide Reduction System SAE Paper No. 2005-01-2863 , presented 35th International Conference on Environmental Systems 2005
- Alptekin, G. Hitch, B. Dubovik, M. Lind, J. Smith, F. Prototype Demonstration of the Advanced CO 2 Removal and Reduction System SAE Paper No. 2005-01-2862 , presented 35th International Conference on Environmental Systems 2005
- Murdoch, K. Smith, F. Perry, J. Green, S. Assessment of Technology Readiness Level of a Carbon Dioxide Reduction Assembly (CRA) for Use on International Space Station SAE Paper No. 2004-01-2446 , presented 34th International Conference on Environmental Systems 2004
- Alptekin, G. Copeland, R. DeVoss, S. Lind, J. Smith, F. An Advanced CO 2 Removal and Reduction System SAE Paper No. 2004-01-2445 , presented 34th International Conference on Environmental Systems 2004
- Jeng, F.F. Lafuse, S. Smith, F.D. Lu, S.-D. Knox, J.C. Campbell, M.L. Scull, T.D. Green, S. Analyses of the Integration of Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly, Compressor, Accumulator and Sabatier Carbon Dioxide Reduction Assembly SAE Paper No. 2004-01-2496 , presented 34th International Conference on Environmental Systems 2004
- Murdoch, K. Perry, J. Smith, F. Sabatier Engineering Development Unit SAE Paper No. 2003-01-2496 , presented 33rd International Conference on Environmental Systems 2003
- Murdoch, K.E. Scull, T.D. Carrasquillo, R.L. Graf, J. Sabatier CO 2 Reduction System Design Status SAE Paper No. 2002-01-2531 , presented 32nd International Conference on Environmental Systems 2002
- Jeng, F.F. Lin, C.H. A Trade Study on Sabatier CO 2 Reduction Subsystem for Advanced Missions SAE Paper No. 2001-01-2293 , presented 31st International Conference on Environmental Systems 2001
- Murdoch, K.E. Allen, G.F., Jr. Parametric Impacts on Sabatier Water Production Capability SAE Paper No. 1999-01-2121 , presented 29th International Conference on Environmental Systems 1999
- Zubrin, R. Price, S. Mason, L. Report on the Construction and Operation of a Mars In-Situ Propellant Plant. AIAA-94-2844, presented 30th AIAA/ASME Joint Propulsion Conference Indianapolis, IN June 1994
- Zubrin, R. Price, S. Mason, L. Mars Sample Return With In-Situ Resource Utilization: An End-to-End Demonstration of a Full Scale Mars In-Situ Propellant Production Unit, Final Report NASA Contract NAS-9-19145 Jan 1995
- Nakata, A. Matsumoto, H. Hatano, S. Kita, Y. Shimoda, T. Fundamental Study of Water Generation System on Mars SAE 2001-01-2413 , presented 31st International Conference on Enviromental Systems July 2001
- TeGrotenhuis, W.E. King, D.L. Brooks, K.P. Optimizing Microchannel Reactors by Trading-Off Equilibrium and Reaction Kinetics through Temperature Management presented AlChE Spring National Meeting March 2002
- Brenchley, D.L. Applications of Micro Chemical and Thermal Systems presented AlChE Spring National Meeting March 2001
- Strumpf, J.J. et al., Sabatier Carbon Dioxide Reduction System for Long-Duration Manned Space Application, SAE Technical Paper Series No. 911541 Society of Automotive Engineers Warrendale, PA 1991
- Lunde, P.J. Modeling, Simulation, and Operation of a Sabatier Reactor Ind. Eng. Chem., Process Des. Dev. 13 3 226 232 1974
- Du, G. Lim, S. Yang, Y. Wang, C. Pfefferle, L. Haller, G.L. Methanation of Carbon Dioxide on Ni-Incorporated MCM-41 Catalysts: The Influence of Catalyst Pretreatment and Study of Steady-State Reaction J. Catal. 249 370 379 2007
- Niemela, M. Nokkosmaki, M. Activation of Carbon Dioxide on Fe-Catalysts Catal. Today 100 269 274 2005
- Traa, Y. Weitkamp, J. Kinetics of the Methanation of Carbon Dioxide over Ruthenium on Titania Chem. Eng. Technol. 21 291 293 1999
- Li, D. Ichikuni, N. Shimazu, S. Uematsu, T. Hydrogenation of CO 2 over Sprayed Ru/TiO 2 Fine Particles and Strong Metal-Support Interaction Appl. Catal. A 180 227 235 1999
- Li, D. Ichikuni, N. Shimazu, S. Uematsu, T. Catalytic Properties of Sprayed Ru/Al 2 O 3 and Promoter Effects of Alkali Metals in CO 2 Hydrogenation Appl. Catal. A 172 351 358 1998
- Aksoylu, A.E. Misirli, Z. Onsan, Z.I. Interaction between Nickel and Molybdenum in Ni-Mo/AI 2 O 3 Catalysts: I. CO 2 Methanation and SEM-TEM Studies Appl. Catal. A 168 385 397 1998
- Marwood, M. Doepper, R. Renken, A. In-Situ Surface and Gas Phase Analysis for Kinetic Studies under Transient Conditions The Catalytic Hydrogenation of CO 2 , Appl. Catal. A 151 223 246 1997
- de Leitenburg, C. Trovarelli, A. Kaspar, J. A Temperature Programmed and Transient Kinetic Study of CO 2 Activation and Methanation over CeO 2 Supported Noble Metals J. Catal. 166 98 107 1997
- Nakayama, T. Ichikuni, N. Sato, S. Nozaki, F. Ni/MgO Catalyst Prepared Using Citric Acid for Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide Appl. Catal. A 158 185 199 1997
- Shashidhara, G.M. Ravindram, M. Methanation of CO 2 over Ru - SiO 2 Catalyst React. Kin. Catal. Lett. 46 365 372 1992
- Williams, K.J. Boffa, A.B. Salmeron, M. Bell, A.T. Somorjai, G.A. The Kinetics of CO 2 Hydrogenation on a Rh Foil Promoted by Titania Overlayers Catal. Lett. 9 415 426 1991
- Baussart, H. Delobel, R. Le Bras, M. Leroy, J.M. Hydrogenation of CO 2 over Co/Cu/K Catalysts J. Chem. Soc, Faraday Trans. 1 83 1711 1718 1987
- Wedel, S. Luss, D. Steady-State Multiplicity Features of an Adiabatic Fixed-Bed Reactor with Langmuir-Hinshelwood Kinetics; CO or CO 2 Methanation, Ind Eng. Chem. Fundam 23 280 288 1984
- Solymosi, F. Erdohelyi, A. Kocsis, M. Methanation of CO 2 on Supported Ru Catalysts J. Chem. Soc, Faraday Trans. 1 77 1003 1012 1981
- Inui, T. Funabiki, M. Suehiro, M. Sezume, T. Methanation of CO 2 and CO on Supported Nickel-Based Composite Catalysts J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 75 787 802 1979
- Funke, H. Jehle, W. Tan, G. Methane Pyrolysis to Close the ECLS Hydrogen Loop SAE Paper No. 2001-01-2292 , presented at 31st International Conference on Environmental Systems July 2001
- Jehle, W. Funke, H. Preiss, H. Wagner, B. Steinwandel, J. Tan, G. Hydrogen Processing in Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) SAE Paper No. 2000-01-2355 , presented at 30th International Conference on Environmental Systems July 2000
- Atwater, J.E. Wheeler, R.R., Jr. Hadley, N.M. Dahl, R.W. Carrasquillo, R.L. Hydrogen Recovery by Methane Decomposition in a Microwave Plasma Reactor SAE Paper No, 2008-01-2099 , presented 38th International Conference on Environmental Systems San Francisco July 2 2008
- Atwater, J.E. Akse, J.R. Wheeler, R.R., Jr. Dahl, R.W. Zavala, D.B., Jr. Hanken, B.E. Holtsnider, J.T. Williams, T.W. Nanci, J.C. Hydrogen Recovery by ECR Plasma Pyrolysis of Methane, URC 81164, Final Report, NASA Contract NNM06AA45C July 2006
- Murata, K. Inaba, M. Saito, M. Takahara, I. Mimura, N. Improvement of Stability of an Fe/Mg/Al 2 O 3 Catalyst for the Decomposition of Methane in the Presence of O 2 /CO 2 React. Kinetics Cata. Lett 80 39 44 2003
- Takenaka, S. Son, V.T.D. Yamada, C. Otsuka, K. Methane to Hydrogen by Means of Modified Iron Oxides Chem. Lett. 32 1022 1023 2003
- Zhang, Y. Smith, K.J. CH 4 Decomposition on Co Catalysts: Effect of Temperature, Dispersion, and the Presence of H 2 or CO in the Feed Catai. Today 77 257 268 2002
- Ishihara, T. Kawahara, A. Fukunaga, A. Nishiguchi, H. Shinkai, H. Miyaki, M. Takita, Y. CH 4 Decomposition with a Pd-Ag Hydrogen-Permeating Membrane Reactor for Hydrogen Production at Decreased Temperature Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 41 3365 3369 2002
- Takenaka, S. Ogihara, H. Yamanaka, I. Otsuka, K. Decomposition of Methane over Supported-Ni Catalysts: Effects of the Supports on the Catalytic Lifetime Appl. Catal. A 217 101 110 2001
- Ermakova, M.A. Ermakov, D.Y. Plysova, L.M. Kuvshinov, G.G. XRD Studies of Catalytic Nickel Nanoparticles During Synthesis of Filamentous Carbon from Methane Catai. Lett. 62 93 97 1999
- Browning, L.C. Emmet, P.H. Equilibrium Measurements in the System C - CH 4 - H 2 J. Am. Chem. Soc 73 581 583 1951
- Moliner, R. Suelves, I. Lazaro, M.J. Moreno, O. Thermocatalytic Decomposition of Methane over Activated Carbons: Influence of Textural Properties and Surface Chemistry Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 30 293 300 2005
- Bai, Z. Chen, H. Li, B. Li, W. Catalytic Decomposition of Methane over Activated Carbon J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 73 335 341 2005
- Kim, M.H. Lee, E.K. Jun, J.H. Kong, S.J. Han, G.Y. Lee, B.K. Lee, T.J. Yoon, K.J. Hydrogen Production by Catalytic Decomposition of Methane over Activated Carbons: Kinetic Study Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 29 187 193 2004
- Lee, K.K. Han, G.Y. Yoon, K.J. Lee, B.K. Thermocata lytic Hydrogen Production from the Methane in a Fluidized Bed with Activated Carbon Catalyst Catal. Today 93–95 81 86 2004
- Atwater, J.E. Akse, J.R. Holtsnider, J.T Dahl, R.W. Development and Testing of a Fluidized Bed Methane Pyrolysis Reactor for Hydrogen Recovery from Sabatier Products, URC 81229, Final Report, NASA Contract NNM06AA06C March 2008
- Akse, J.R. Williams, T.W. Dahl, R. Atwater, J.E. Methane Pyrolysis for Hydrogen and Carbon Nanotube Recovery from Sabatier Products, URC 81118, Final Report, NASA Contract NNM05AA28C July 2005
- Hirsch, D. Steinfeld, A. Radiative Transfer in a Solar Chemical Reactor for the Co-Production of Hydrogen and Carbon by Thermal Decomposition of Methane Chem. Eng. Sci. 59 5771 5778 2004
- Dahl, J.K. Buechler, K.J. Weimer, A.W. Lewandowski, A. Bingham, C Solar-Thermal Dissociation of Methane in a Fluid-Wall Aerosol Flow Reactor Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 29 725 736 2004
- Dahl, J.K. Weimer, A.W. Krantz, W.B. Sensitivity Analysis of the Rapid Decomposition of Methane in an Aerosol Flow Reactor Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 29 57 65 2004
- Atwater, J.E. Wheeler, R.R., Jr. Hadley, N.M. Dahl, R.W. Microwave Plasma Reactor for Hydrogen Recovery from Methane, URC 81268, Final Report NASA Contract NNM07AA14C March 2009