Browsing by Subject "JP-8"
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Item Conversion of MixAlco Process Sludge to Liquid Transportation Fuels(2012-02-15) Teiseh, Eliasu 1973-About 8 tons of dry undigested solid waste is generated by the MixAlco process for every 40 tons of food residue waste fed into the process. This MixAlco process produces liquid fuels and the sludge generated can be further converted into synthesis gas using the process of pyrolysis. The hydrogen component of the product synthesis gas may be separated by pressure swing adsorption and used in the hydrogenation of ketones into fuels and chemicals. The synthesis gas may also be catalytically converted into liquid fuels via the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. The auger-type pyrolyzer was operated at a temperature between 630-770 degrees C and at feed rates in the range of 280-374 g/minute. The response surface statistical method was used to obtain the highest syngas composition of 43.9 +/- 3.36 v % H2/33.3 +/- 3.29 v % CO at 740 degrees C. The CH4 concentration was 20.3 +/- 2.99 v %. For every ton of sludge pyrolyzed, 5,990 g H2 (719.3 MJ), 65,000 g CO (660 MJ) and 21,170 g CH4 (1055.4 MJ) were projected to be produced at optimum condition. At all temperatures, the sum of the energies of the products was greater than the electrical energy needed to sustain the process, making it energy neutral. To generate internal H2 for the MixAlco process, a method was developed to efficiently separate H2 using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) from the synthesis gas, with activated carbon and molecular sieve 5A as adsorbents. The H2 can be used to hydrogenate ketones generated from the MixAlco process to more liquid fuels. Breakthrough curves, cycle mass balances and cycle bed productivities (CBP) were used to determine the maximum hydrogen CBP using different adsorbent amounts at a synthesis gas feed rate of 10 standard lpm and pressure of 118 atm. A 99.9 % H2 purity was obtained. After a maximum CBP of 66 % was obtained further increases in % recovery led to a decrease in CBP. The synthesis gas can also be catalytically converted into liquid fuels by the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) process. A Co-SiO2/Mo-Pd-Pt-ZSM-5 catalyst with a metal-metal-acid functionality was synthesized with the aim of increasing the selectivity of JP-8 (C10-C17) fuel range. The specific surface areas of the two catalysts were characterized using the BET technique. The electron probe microanalyzer (with WDS and EDS capabilities) was then used to confirm the presence of the applied metals Co, Mo, Pd and Pt on the respective supports. In addition to the gasoline (C4-C12) also produced, the synthesis gas H2:CO ratio was also adjusted to 1.90 for optimum cobalt performance in an enhanced FTS process. At 10 atm (150 psig) and 250 degrees C, the conventional FTS catalyst Co-SiO2 produced fuels rich in hydrocarbons within the gasoline carbon number range. At the same conditions the Co-SiO2-Mo-Pd-Pt/HZSM-5 catalyst increased the selectivity of JP-8. When Co-SiO2/Mo-Pd-Pt-HZSM-5 was used at 13.6 atm (200 psig) and 250 degrees C, a further increase in the selectivity of JP-8 and to some extent diesel was observed. The relative amounts of olefins and n-paraffins decreased with the products distribution shifting more towards the production of isomers.Item Microplasma Ball Reactor for Liquid Hydrocarbon Conversion(2014-04-24) Slavens, Stephen MAs the world?s light oil reserves diminish, the use of alternative fuels is becoming more of a necessity. In order to make use of alternative fuels, alternative processes must be developed. The goal of this research is to convert long, complex chain liquid hydrocarbons into shorter, simpler chains. This is a method for converting heavy oils into lighter oils. The method used for this non-conventional processing uses a microplasma in order to initiate a cracking reaction and break up hydrocarbon chains. A novel reactor was designed and tested with this application in mind. A high voltage power supply was hooked up to two parallel electrodes with a small metal ball trapped between them. Because the metal ball is a charged particle, the high electric field generated by the electrodes accelerates the ball toward the electrode of opposite charge. Right before contact between the ball and electrode happens; a small plasma discharge is created as the charge transfers between the ball and electrode. The ball, now of the opposite charge, is accelerated back to the original electrode. This process repeats to create a bouncing ball that produces rapid microplasma discharges which are used as input energy for the hydrocarbon cracking process. This process was used to create a reactor with many balls bouncing in parallel for two separate applications. This reactor was first used to process JP-8, military jet fuel, and convert it to a propane rich mixture. The processing of JP-8 was able to produce a gaseous product that is up to 13% C_(3) hydrocarbons by mass. Second, the reactor was adapted in order to process very heavy crude oils. These oils are very viscous and electrically conductive making them difficult to work with. By plasma processing at elevated temperature during treatment, permanent viscosity reduction by up to 40% was demonstrated by shortening the average hydrocarbon chain length. In order to increase the effectiveness of the processing a pressure vessel was used in order to keep lighter hydrocarbons in liquid phase. The producing of C_(3) hydrocarbons from JP-8 and the lowering of the viscosity of heavy oil is evidence of reduction in hydrocarbon chain length.