Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) Analysis

BACKGROUND

Steam methane reforming (SMR) is the most widely used hydrogen (H2) production method, converting natural gas and steam into H2 and carbon dioxide (CO2). SMR is a mature industrial technology that burns fossil fuels to provide heat to the endothermic reforming reaction and to generate steam, which contributes to the production of greenhouse gas emissions.

DESCRIPTION

UCLA has the ability to test components, materials and catalysts for sustainable energy applications and for electrification of industrial processes (e.g. SMR). These capabilities include:

• Testing of catalysts on Joule-heated reactors for gas phase reactions
• Testing of catalyst on ceramic proton conductive membrane reactors
• Online gas and liquid chromatography for determination of reaction intermediates in electrocatalytic cells
• Testing of catalysts in kW-scale electrolyzers