Experimental study of the partial catalytic dehydrogenation of selected kerosene components with Pt–Sn/γ-Al2O3

•Hydrogen production by partial catalytic dehydrogenation of Jet A-1.•Process concept for pressurized auxiliary power unit.•Defining model components and model mixtures from chemical composition of Jet A-1.•Hydrogen output from cycloalkanes; n-alkanes show cracking reaction and carbon formation.•Investigated reaction conditions 8 bar, 425 °C and 4 s of contact time on 1 wt% Pt/Sn catalyst.

The partial catalytic dehydrogenation has been carried out with defined model components and model mixtures representing hydrocarbon groups and chemical composition of desulfurized Jet A-1 over 1.0 wt% Pt/Sn catalyst on γ-Al2O3 carrier. The hydrogen yield, cracking products and carbon deposit on the catalyst surface are studied in order to define suitable reaction conditions for a pressurized auxiliary power unit concept with gas conditioning for fuel cell systems. The results show that alkanes lead to high cracking rate and carbon deposit which can be suppressed with increased pressure up to 8 bar. The hydrocarbon group cycloalkanes represented by methylcyclohexane shows sufficient conversion of 32 wt% towards hydrogen evolution in model mixtures under pressurized conditions. The average hydrogen yield of the model mixture of 72 nlH2nlH2/kgfeed was achieved under defined reaction conditions of 425 °C catalyst bed temperature, 8 bar system pressure and 4 s of contact time on the catalyst.