IMPEDANCE-BASED SENSOR FOR DETECTION OF CATALYST COKING IN FUEL REFORMING SYSTEMS

摘要

The present invention relates to a novel sensor for detecting the early stages of catalyst coking in fuel reforming systems and methods for making and using the same. The sensor may be manufactured by inkjet printing a colloidal suspension of ceramic powders to create thin (about 20 μm) catalytic and conductive elements of the sensor. The sensor may be used to determine the presence of coking conditions during processes at a level below the detection limit available using thermogravimetric analyzers (TGA) (<10 μg), thereby reducing catalyst coking in systems.

主权项

1. A method for detecting the presence of coke, comprising:
placing a sensor in a reactor, wherein the sensor monitors an electronic conductivity; monitoring the electronic conductivity to determine an initial electronic conductivity by monitoring a voltage; and notifying a user when the electronic conductivity drops to between about 1% to about 50% of the initial electronic conductivity, wherein coke formation is present when the electronic conductivity is between about 1% to about 50% of the initial electronic conductivity.