Non Technical Summary
This Phase II work is critical to the evolution of the adiabatic reactor and catalyst combination as it will be used directly to further the design of a 500 kg H2/day demonstration plant located in Cloverdale, IN. It significantly reduces the technical risk associated with the part of the technology with the greatest uncertainity.The opportunity for this new and novel technology is unparalled in:1. expanding use of bioethanol and securing its place in domestic energy production2. providing a emission-free source of hydrogen3. demonstrating in a realistic way, a pathway forremoving carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
402	1510	2000	50%
402	0499	2020	50%

Knowledge Area
402 - Engineering Systems and Equipment;

Subject Of Investigation
1510 - Corn; 0499 - Atmosphere, general/other;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 2000 - Chemistry;

Goals / Objectives
This project is directed toward the development and operation of the key piece of technology: a prototype oxidative reformer reactor with unique internals that optimize the conversion and selectivity to maximize hydrogen production.. There are three main project goals:Scale-up and fabrication of 1/50th commercial scale Prototype Reactor (PR) and supporting operating system.Optimize the number and location of feed addition ports relative to the internal structure of the PR catalysts.Temperature and mass mapping of the reactor with different catalyst structure and feed ports.

Project Methods
This proposal describes the development and operation of the key piece of technology: a prototype oxidative reformer reactor with unique internals that optimize the conversion and selectivity to maximize hydrogen production. There are three main objectives:Scale-up and fabrication of 1/50th commercial scale Prototype Reactor (PR) and supporting operating system.Optimize the number and location of feed addition ports relative to the internal structure of the PR catalysts.Temperature mapping of the reactor with different catalyst structure and feed ports.Through instrumentation within the PR, we can track radial and axial temperature and mass distributions during startup, equilibrium operation, and shut down. Using different head assemblies, reactants can be introduced at different locations and with different geometries. Trend analysis of temperature and chemical species guide the optimum configuration for achieve uniform distribution of the reactants and insight into the reactions occuring in the first 6 - 12 inches of the reactor.