Carbon Activity
Posted: 19 Dec 2010, 14:12
How can one estimate the carbon activity of a hydrocarbon process like in reformers outlet to waste heat boilers?
octane, I guess you are talking about carburization process. Carbon is transferred into iron by the following reactions:
CO + H2 = H2O + C
2 CO = CO2 + C
CH4 = 2 H2 + C
The thermodynamics of these reactions is well known. First reaction is the fastest and most important carburization reaction, and takes place by the reactionsteps:
CO = CO(adsorbed) = O(adsorbed) + C
O(adsorbed) + H2 = H2O
First step is rate controlling and second one is virtually in equilibrium. Anyhow that contains a lots of Chemistry. You can refer to following referrence for details;
Grabke, H.J.: Ber. Bunsenges. Physik. Chemie 69 (1965); Metallurg. Trans. 1 (1974); Archiv Eisenhüttenwesen 46 (1975).
In short carbon activity at reformer outlet tubes/piping is function of temperature and concentration of carbon containing compounds (CH4, CO) in presence of Hydrogen.