Enhancing Molten Tin Methane Pyrolysis Performance for Hydrogen and Carbon Production in a Hybrid Solar/Electric Bubbling Reactor
Résumé
Methane pyrolysis in liquid metals is a worth-developing process for CO 2-free hydrogen production. This study investigates methane pyrolysis in molten tin and highlights the impact of several parameters on methane conversion (X CH4) in a novel hybrid solar/electric bubbling reactor. Temperature (1200-1300 °C), total inlet gas flow rate (Q 0 = 0.25-0.5 NL/min), melt height (H im = 60-120-235 mm) and hybridization are addressed. Increasing the temperature from 1200 °C to 1300 °C (Q 0 = 0.25 NL/min and H im = 120 mm) improves X CH4 (32% vs. 69%). Increasing Q 0 from 0.25 to 0.5 NL/min (T = 1200 °C and H im = 120 mm) reduces X CH4 (19% vs. 9%). Doubling the melt height, H im (60 to 120 mm) increases the residence time of bubbles, which increases X CH4 (7% vs. 19%). A customized sparger is also tested and shows little effect, probably because the holes are relatively large (1 mm diameter). An immersed bed of steel particles (0.2-0.4 mm diameter) instead shows good results (X CH4 = 32%) at a relatively low temperature (1100 °C). Continuous reactor operation at 1300 °C without clogging is also confirmed. Analysis of carbon accumulated at melt surface during molten media methane pyrolysis reveals a tin-containing sheet-like structure.
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