We
report the design and performance of a rapid pulse
Joule heating
(RPH) reactor with an in situ Raman spectrometer
for highly endothermic, reversible reactions. We demonstrate it for
methane dry reforming over a bimetallic PtNi/SiO2 catalyst
that shows better performance than its monometallic counterparts.
The catalyst temperature ramp rate can reach ∼14000 °C/s,
mainly owing to the low thermal mass and resistivity of the heating
element. Joule heating elements afford temperatures unachievable by
conventional technology to enhance performance and more than double
the energy efficiency. Dynamic electrification can increase syngas
productivity and rate. Extensive characterizations suggest that pulse
heating creates an in situ catalyst regeneration
strategy that suppresses coke formation, sintering, and phase segregation,
resulting in improved catalyst stability, under many conditions. Potentially
driven by renewable electricity, the RPH can provide superb process
advantages for high-temperature endothermic reactions and lead to
negative carbon emissions.