Catalytic Gasification of Rice Hull. 3. Measurement of Reaction Efficiency in the Steam Reforming of Carbonaceous Material

Steam reforming of hydrocarbons provides an effective method of releasing hydrogen from a water molecule. The efficiency of the reaction depends on the structure of the reactant and catalysts and the reaction conditions. The traditional index, ΔT, for measuring reaction efficiency using the temperature difference between the actual reaction temperature and the thermodynamic equilibrium temperature of the product gases is inadequate. A new index, REST, is proposed to indicate the reaction efficiency of steam participation in the steam reforming reaction; this index is calculated from the ratio of actual steam consumption vs. the theoretical requirement of steam. With both ΔT and REST indexes, the efficiencies of steam reforming reactions of biomass (rice hull), methanol, and hydrocarbons (methane and naphtha) are analyzed with respect to the effects of temperature, H₂O/C ratio, and Ni surface area. The results indicate that REST approach provides greater sensitivity and more universal applicability in the general scope of this reaction.