Thermally-Stable Catalysts for Methane Reforming to Improve Combustion and Increase Heat Sink Capacity

Liquefied methane is a promising fuel for space launch vehicles because it has a high specific impulse, excellent cooling capacity, and is very resistant to coking and soot formation. Unfortunately, it is also a very stable molecule and therefore ignition delay times can exceed combustor residence times. Therefore, in order to utilize methane effectively, combustors must be larger, increasing the drag and weight of the vehicle. In addition, due to the extreme heat loads expected, improving the fuel’s heat sink capacity is also a critical need. Reforming a small percentage of the methane fuel flow with an equal molar ratio of water will produce high concentrations of hydrogen and substantial increases in heat sink capacity. Unfortunately temperatures required to obtain hydrogen are higher than those in which typical reforming catalysts can remain active. However, TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) has developed a method to prepare thermally stable catalysts that can withstand the temperatures that are required in this application. Thus, in this project we will prepare a series of catalysts substituted with metals that are known to be active for steam reforming, characterize their activity for methane reforming, and perform an initial system study that evaluates the effects of methane reforming for high speed vehicles.