Target tiles for an autothermal reformation/secondary reformation unit

1. A generally hexagonal ceramic tile body, comprising:

a flat hexagonal top surface;

an oppositely disposed flat hexagonal bottom surface oriented parallel with the flat hexagonal top surface;

a refractory material defining a refractory inner volume disposed between the top and bottom surfaces; and

a plurality of apertures extending therethrough;

wherein the refractory inner volume is between about 80 mm and 95 mm thick;

wherein the flat hexagonal top surface is about 42 cm across; and

wherein the refractory inner volume is fully stabilized yttria stabilized zirconia;

and wherein the refractory inner volume contains between 8 percent and 16 percent yttria.

2. The sintered body of claim 1 wherein the body has a porosity of less than 1 percent.

3. The sintered body of claim 1 wherein the body has a porosity of less than 10 percent.

4. The sintered body of claim 1 wherein the body has a porosity of less than 20 percent.

5. The sintered body of claim 1 wherein the refractory inner volume is 13% yttria.

6. The sintered body of claim 1 wherein each respective aperture is a right circular cylinder with a diameter of about 19 mm.

7. The sintered body of claim 1 and further comprising a lip extending from the tile body for engaging adjacent tile bodies.

8. A corrosion resistant refractory ceramic hexagonal target tile body for use covering a burner media bed, comprising a generally flat hexagonal portion and a plurality of generally right circular cylindrical aperture portions extending therethrough; wherein the ceramic hexagonal target tile body has a thickness of about 89 mm and a width of about 42 cm; wherein the ceramic body is 13 percent yttria fully stabilized YSZ; wherein each respective aperture has a diameter of about 19 mm.

9. A method of retarding corrosion of burner catalyst media, comprising:

a) positioning a plurality of catalyst media in a regenerative unit to define a bed;

b) positioning a plurality of hexagonal target tiles adjacent the bed and between a hot gas source and the bed to define a contiguous floor;

c) flowing hot gas through the contiguous floor and through the bed;

wherein each respective hexagonal target tile has a thickness of about 89 mm, a width of about 42 cm, and a composition of 13 percent Atria fully stabilized YSZ.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein each respective target tile further comprises a plurality of right circular cylindrical apertures extending therethrough; wherein each aperture has a diameter of about 19 mm.