Carbon content measuring in reformer catalyst 1

[qca2003]

Hi,

We have a problem in a reformer unit of synthetis gas ( oxo gas ),and we think this is due to carbon formation on the surface of catalyst. We would like to ask some questions, as follows :
1. What is cause the increasing of pressure drop in the reformer catalyst ? ( in our system the increasing of pressure drop is very significant, day to day )
2.Have you idea which methods are used ( ei. ASTM )for determaining carbon content in the reformer catalyst as the product of carbon formation ( if occur, since carbon formation is one of the caused increasing pressure drop ) ?
3.What is the method to determain oil content in the gas ( Natural gas, hydrogen gas, etc ) ?

Thank you for your attention, and hope your replay or coment asap.

Wahib A
16/10/03

 

[lubes]

If you are reforming natural gas, check to see you are not getting heavy hydrocarbons / liquids in the feed. You should probably be reforming methane and perhaps some ethane. How are your feed K.O. drums working? Use Gas Chromatography (GC) to determine the composition of your feed gas and calculate backwards the Hydrogen content of your feed gas. Check UOP703-98 "Carbon on Catalysts by Induction Furnance Combustion and Infrared Detection" as a method to measure carbon on catalyst, or, even better, send a sample of spent catalyst to the catalyst manufacturer to measure the carbon content.