Catalytic Cracking of Diesel Fuel for Army Field Burners. Part 3. Study of Catalytic Cracking and Steam Reforming

This is one of three reports of a study to develop an advanced fuel conversion process to produce gaseous fuel for field burners. In this process, a gaseous mixture of light hydrocarbons is produced via the catalytic cracking of logistic fuels like diesel and JP-8. This innovative concept leads to a new generation of field burners which are relatively simple, reliable, easy to start and environmentally favorable. This report (Part III) documents in intense study of both catalytic crackling and steam reforming of diesel. Along with exploring commercially available catalysts, Aspen Systems also designed and synthesized diesel cracking/reforming catalysts, and tested their performance for application. The technical approach of the centralized fuel processing unit was modified to be a combination of catalytic cracking and steaming reforming, instead of a single catalytic cracking as proposed originally. The first report (Part I, NATICK/TR-00/004) documents and demonstrates the feasibility of a catalytic cracking process to produce hydrogen and light hydrogen molecules from diesel with a minimal yield of heavy hydrocarbon residues. A second report (Part II, NATICK/TR-00/005) contains results of objectives to demonstrate the long-term performance (durability/reliability) of a catalytic cracking process developed during Phase I and to produce a prototype catalytic burning unit.