Analysis of a Plate-Type Microreformer for Methanol Steam Reforming Reaction

Abstract

A numerical simulation is performed in this study for a plate-type microreactor with parallel microchannels and diagonal inlets/outlets. The methanol steam reforming reaction is considered, and the performance is evaluated by examining the concentration profiles of methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide within the rector under various operating conditions, including the influences of the steam/carbon (S/C) ratio, reaction temperature, and liquid feed rate. Particularly, the effect of aspect ratio of the microchannel on the methanol conversion rate, hydrogen generation rate, and mole fraction of carbon monoxide in the outlet gas mixture are also explored. The results show that such a plate-type design of methanol microreformer may cause nonuniform reaction states in each microchannel and affect its reforming performance significantly. It is found that these concentration nonuniformities are heavily dependent on the reaction temperature, S/C ratio, and liquid feed rate. The numerical model provides an efficient way to characterize the reforming reactions within the reactor, and the results will benefit the future design for a plate-type methanol microreformer.

3-D model of a radial flow sub-watt methanol fuel processor

“…The most common designs are variations of a coated wall plate reactor with zig-zag's internal fluid flow, coated wall Swiss-roll reactors, and packed bed reactors (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28) .…”

High temperature energy storage performances of methane reforming with carbon dioxide in a tubular packed reactor

“…Kumar et al [24] developed a one-dimensional nonisothermal model for an oxygen permeable membrane reactor to simulate the partial oxidation of methane to produce hydrogen. Chen et al [25] used a numerical model to analyze a plate-type reactor for methanol reforming of steam. Wang et al [26] simulated the thermal and chemical reaction performance of steam methane reforming in solar thermochemical reactor.…”

Solution Precursor Plasma Spray (SPPS) technique of catalyst coating for hydrogen production in a single channel with cavities plate type methanol based microreformer

“…Reforming reaction is not uniform in these microreformers due to uneven distribution of reactants in the channels. Microchannels in the central part of a reformer always exhibit better reforming performance [28]. Chen et al [28] found that such a plate type design of the methanol microreformer may cause non-uniform reaction rates in each microchannel and affect its reforming performance significantly.…”

“…Microchannels in the central part of a reformer always exhibit better reforming performance [28]. Chen et al [28] found that such a plate type design of the methanol microreformer may cause non-uniform reaction rates in each microchannel and affect its reforming performance significantly. Besides this, in case of microreformers with multiple channels and multiple stacks placed one above the other, two more difficulties faced are feed stream branching with uniform flow rate for each stack and catalyst replacement after catalyst deactivation.…”