NETL has three unique gas/solids reactors that have the capability of testing in either the fixed- or fluidized-bed configurations, and at high temperatures and low-to-high pressures. These reactors are being used to evaluate how well regenerable sorbents/catalysts remove CO₂ , NOx , mercury, and other trace elements from combustible coal gas streams.

Over the past decade, these facilities have been leaders in addressing R&D issues associated with commercialization of suitable catalysts/sorbents for gas desulfurization. NETL researchers and industrial partners use the test facility to study gas/solids reaction systems that are vital to cutting edge technologies, including CO₂ storage and energy-efficient fossil fuel utilization. It operates in conjunction with facilities for sorbent/catalyst bench-scale testing and for in-situ (in-place) reaction studies. In 2000, NETL received an R&D 100 Award for its RSV-1 Regenerable Desulfurization Sorbent. The process for preparation of this sorbent has been patented, licensed, and published .

High-Pressure Bench-Scale Fixed- /Fluidized-Bed Reactor
The reactor shell is constructed from Incoloy 800HT alloy. Inside the shell is a removable, Alonized stainless steel cage designed for easy loading and unloading of catalyst/sorbent. (Alonizing is a process for treating stainless or carbon steel surfaces with vaporous aluminum to improve corrosion resistance at high temperatures.) Three different sized cages are available, providing a unique flexibility to generate scale-up information. The online sampling instrumentation available in these facilities includes gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Online sampling of exit gases and condensate can be done by an operator and sent to the onsite analytical lab for analysis. Available reactor operating conditions are shown in Table I.

Low-Pressure Bench-Scale Fixed- /Fluidized-Bed Reactor
This reactor is constructed from quartz tubing located inside a vertically positioned tube furnace. Tubing and fittings, from the mass flow controllers to the reactor, are titanium; while the tubing from the reactor to online instrumentation is titanium or Teflon. These materials render this reactor inert to most trace contaminant species. Online sampling instrumentation includes gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Online sampling of exit gases and condensate can be taken by an operator and sent to the on-site analytical lab for analysis. Reactor operating conditions are shown in Table II.

Low-Pressure Lab-Scale Fixed-Bed Screening Unit
This unit consists of an Alonized stainless steel reactor located inside a three-zoned, vertically positioned tube furnace. The small size of this reactor makes it ideal for economical screening studies, where a large number of cycles may be required or where many samples may be necessary to screen in a short period of time. Online sampling instrumentation includes gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Online sampling of exit gases and condensate can be performed by an operator and sent to the on-site analytical lab for analysis. Reactor operating conditions are shown in Table III.

Patents, Licenses, and Publications

For more information contact: Ranjani Siriwardane