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A kinetic computer model of a steam/methane reformer has been developed as a design and analytical tool for a fuel cell system's fuel conditioner. This model has reaction, geometry, flow arrangement, and heat transfer options. Model predictions have been compared to previous experimental data, and close agreement was obtained. Initially, the Leva-type, packed-bed, heat transfer correlations were used. However, calculations based upon the reacting, reformer gases indicate a considerably higher heat transfer coefficient for this reformer design. Data analysis from similar designs in the literature also shows this phenomenon. This is thought to be a reaction-induced effect, brought about by the changing of gas composition, the increased gas velocity, the lower catalyst temperature during reaction, and the higher thermal and reaction gradients involved in compact fuel cell reformer designs. Future experimental work is planned to verify the model's predictions further.

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