%0 Journal Article
%T Pretreated Landfill Gas Conversion Process via a Catalytic Membrane Reactor for Renewable Combined Fuel Cell-Power Generation
%A Zoe Ziaka
%A Savvas Vasileiadis
%J Journal of Renewable Energy
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/209364
%X A new landfill gas-based reforming catalytic processing system for the conversion of gaseous hydrocarbons, such as incoming methane to hydrogen and carbon oxide mixtures, is described and analyzed. The exit synthesis gas (syn-gas) is fed to power effectively high-temperature fuel cells such as SOFC types for combined efficient electricity generation. The current research work is also referred on the description and design aspects of permreactors (permeable reformers) carrying the same type of landfill gas-reforming reactions. Membrane reactors is a new technology that can be applied efficiently in such systems. Membrane reactors seem to perform better than the nonmembrane traditional reactors. The aim of this research includes turnkey system and process development for the landfill-based power generation and fuel cell industries. Also, a discussion of the efficient utilization of landfill and waste type resources for combined green-type/renewable power generation with increased processing capacity and efficiency via fuel cell systems is taking place. Moreover, pollution reduction is an additional design consideration in the current catalytic processors fuel cell cycles. 1. Introduction During our earlier IASTED papers (PGRES, ¡®02, Marina Del Ray, CA; modeling and simulation, ¡®03, Palm Springs, CA), we had the opportunity to describe and analyze preliminary results on catalytic processors for the steam-reforming reaction of methane and natural gas, for use in fuel cell systems such as SOFC units [1, 2]. The current paper is a continuation of that research effort by giving emphasis in the so-called ¡°landfill gas power¡± and ¡°bioenergy¡± systems. We study the use of landfill gases (landfill-generated feedstocks) as sources for electricity and heat generation using fuel cells of the SOFC type. With the introduction of landfill-based gases rich in methane, for the production of intermediate synthesis gas we propose an attractive process in ¡°green power¡± and ¡°biogas/landfill energy¡± based systems. A current emphasis on the development and commercialization of such systems for electricity and heat generation applications is observed. Such installations start to exist currently mainly in US, Europe, Japan, China, and other developing countries. The above presented energy systems require the development and use of an effective catalytic reformer utilizing active metals such as Ni, Ru, Rh, Cr, or bimetallic combinations of those. Earth metal enrichment in the catalyst such as with Ca, Mg, La, and K promotes the catalyst stability on stream and minimizes
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jre/2013/209364/