Specialized Refractories to Withstand Hydrogen Reduction in Syngas Reactors

Syngas reactors are typically lined with aluminum oxide refractories that can resist the reduction reaction; however, the refractory’s performance will be based on its purity level. At high temperatures and low moisture contents, even small concentrations of hydrogen can readily reduce several metal oxides (e.g. Na2O, Fe2O3, SiO2, KO2) that are often present as impurities in aluminum oxide refractories. These reacted impurities are removed from the material structure, leaving a weakened material that is no longer fit for service, and result in downstream gas and water issues when precipitates are formed during cooling.  Similar impurities may also catalyze deposits or microstructure changes within the refractories that cause swelling and crushing of the refractory layers

Saint-Gobain's Materials

Saint-Gobain’s high purity alumina refractories are excellent at combating these unwanted, reduction reactions. We utilize specialty raw materials and operates dedicated manufacturing processes to ensure that the final chemistry of our alumina bricks exceed 99% purity.

Saint- Gobain supplies both hot face and safety backup layers of high purity aluminum oxide that have provided long service life in syngas reactors and demonstrated stable chemistries after several years of use.