Diesel evaporation as the first step of hydrogen production

Diesel constitutes the major fuel utilized in ships. Hence, diesel reforming is foreseen as one of the options for marine fuel cell applications. Evaporation of diesel fuel is an important stage in the diesel reforming processes. Thermal decomposition of the heavy feedstock that occurs primarily in the high temperature domain of the evaporation process leads to carboneous material formation and may plug the evaporator. Carboneous materials can also accumulate on the catalyst surface and cause serious problems in desulfurization and pre-reformer units. The diesel evaporator design is one of the key parameters to minimize carbon formation. The operating conditions must be optimized as well.