Stoichiometric consideration of steam reforming of methane on Ni/Al2O3 catalyst at 650°C by using a solar furnace simulator

Stoichiometry of the steam reforming of methane (CH4+H2O=CO+3H2) was studied using a steam generator, which can keep the steam content in the reactant gases (methane and steam). The reactor was irradiated using the concentrated Xe-lamp beam (solar simulator) to 650°C. The mole ratio of H2O/CH4 in the reactant gases was kept 1/1, and the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst was used. The deposited C and unreacted H2O amounts were calculated by the mass balance equations with the assumption that inlet gases of CH4+H2O produce outlet gases of CO, CO2, H2, CH4 and H2O, and Carbon. The gaseous contents in the outlet gases from the reactor were estimated from the data of the gas chromatography. Those values and the calculated C and H2O values were close to those of equilibrium condition theoretically evaluated using thermodynamic data at 650°C. The inlet gases controlled at the mole ratio of H2O/CH4=1/1 converted to CO and CO2 (CO/CO2=3/1) stoichiometrically on the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst at 650°C.