Ni–Cr–Al metal-foam-supported catalysts for steam methane reforming (SMR) are manufactured by applying a catalytic Ni/Al2O3 sol–gel coating to powder alloyed metallic foam. The structure, microstructure, mechanical stability, and hydrogen yield efficiency of the obtained catalysts are evaluated. The structural and microstructural characteristics show that the catalyst is well coated on the open-pore Ni–Cr–Al foam without cracks or spallation. The measured compressive yield strengths are 2–3 MPa at room temperature and 1.5–2.2 MPa at 750oC regardless of sample size. The specimens exhibit a weight loss of up to 9–10% at elevated temperature owing to the spallation of the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst. However, the metal-foam-supported catalyst appears to have higher mechanical stability than ceramic pellet catalysts. In SMR simulations tests, a methane conversion ratio of up to 96% is obtained with a high hydrogen yield efficiency of 82%.

Recently, automobile washing methods have been carried out using steam of high temperature and high pressure instead of water. Therefore, it is necessary to secure the structural stability of the steam tank. In this study, it is necessary to reduce the weight of the steam tank by reducing the thickness of the existing steam tank by about 25%. The safety of the product design was verified through simulation to ensure the robustness of the product by securing the structural stability and fatigue analysis at high temperature and pressure of the steam tank according to the weight reduction. For newly developed products compared to existing models.

본 연구에서는 CVD법으로 세라믹 막을 제조하였다. 튜브의 α-Al2O3 지지체 위에 Ga 염이 첨가된 γ-Al2O3를 코팅하였고, 실란화합물인 tetramethylorthosilane (TMOS) 를 650℃에서 화학적 기상 증착법으로 막에 증착하였다. 제조된 세라믹 막을 사용하여 수소, 질소, 이산화탄소, 메탄의 단일조성 기체투과 실험을 600℃에서 시행하였다. Ga 염 비첨가 시, 600℃ 수분 처리 실험의 H2/N2 선택도가 926에서 829로 감소한 반면, Ga 염 첨가 시에는 910에서 904로 안정하였다. 이 결과를 통해, 막에 금속염을 첨가하여 제조한 막이 수분 안정성을 향상시킴을 확인하였다.