Investigation of Sour Natural Gas Decomposition in a Nozzle-type Solar Reactor for Hydrogen Production

Javadi, M.; Moghiman, M.; Faridnia, F.

Investigation of Sour Natural Gas Decomposition in a Nozzle-type Solar Reactor for Hydrogen Production

Document Type : Research note

Authors

M. Javadi ¹

M. Moghiman ²

F. Faridnia ²

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Quchan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Iran

² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Eventual realization of a hydrogen economy requires cheap and readily available hydrogen sources and a technology to convert them into pure hydrogen in an efficient and sustainable manner. The objective of this paper is the computational investigation of the hydrogen production through thermal decomposition of sour natural gases containing CH 4 and H 2S inside a solar reactor. In this study a solar reactor has been used to absorb solar power and allow it to concentrate in a graphite nozzle in the middle of the reactor and transfer it to a flow reactant thereafter. From an economical standpoint, the main issue is the production of two valuable products, hydrogen (H 2) and a high-value nano-material of carbon. The effects of H 2S to CH 4 feed ratio and reactor temperature on hydrogen, carbon black, S2 and CS 2 formation are investigated. The results show complex behavior in the products because of the difference in CH 4 and H 2S pyrolysis temperatures. It can be seen that for H2S/CH 4>2, the yields of H2 and CS 2 reach a local and global maximum at H2S/CH 4=5, respectively. A comparison performed between the presented results and the results of Towler and Lynn, and Abanades demonstrates a good agreement.

Keywords

Hydrogen Sulfide

Pyrolysis

Solar Reactor

Hydrogen

Sulfur Compound