Experimental and numerical analysis of a methane thermal decomposition reactor

Paxman, D.S.; Trottier, Stephanie; Flynn, M. R.; Kostiuk, Larry W.; Secanell, Marc

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.08.134

Cited by 26 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The reversible models in Table 1 differ from previous work that relied only on k f and E f [3,[19][20][21][22]. These irreversible kinetic models set k r = 0, which disallows the prediction of reaction equilibria.…”

Section: Validation Of Reversible Catalytic Molten Methane Cracking K...mentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In prior reactor design and economics, authors have assumed that methane cracking is irreversible [3,[19][20][21][22]. However, heterogeneous and noncatalytic methane decomposition is reversible and inhibited by high pressure [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30], an effect that can cause the thermodynamic limitation of hydrogen production [31].…”

Section: Reversible Catalytic Molten Methane Cracking Kineticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tractable solar driven methane cracking with a power tower or beam-down design likely lies within the large range of reaction temperatures and pressures common in industrial practice, which can reach 1100 • Celsius and 400 atmospheres [18]. Over these extreme conditions reaction may be reversible, a facet omitted from recent studies of catalytic methane cracking [3,[19][20][21][22]. Catalytic molten methane kinetics were revisited to evaluate reactor performance over these expansive conditions and explore likely reaction reversibility in industrial implementations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reversible Molten Catalytic Methane Cracking Applied to Commercial Solar-Thermal Receivers

et al. 2020

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When driven by sunlight, molten catalytic methane cracking can produce clean hydrogen fuel from natural gas without greenhouse emissions. To design solar methane crackers, a canonical plug flow reactor model was developed that spanned industrially relevant temperatures and pressures (1150–1350 Kelvin and 2–200 atmospheres). This model was then validated against published methane cracking data and used to screen power tower and beam-down reactor designs based on “Solar Two,” a renewables technology demonstrator from the 1990s. Overall, catalytic molten methane cracking is likely feasible in commercial beam-down solar reactors, but not power towers. The best beam-down reactor design was 9% efficient in the capture of sunlight as fungible hydrogen fuel, which approaches photovoltaic efficiencies. Conversely, the best discovered tower methane cracker was only 1.7% efficient. Thus, a beam-down reactor is likely tractable for solar methane cracking, whereas power tower configurations appear infeasible. However, the best simulated commercial reactors were heat transfer limited, not reaction limited. Efficiencies could be higher if heat bottlenecks are removed from solar methane cracker designs. This work sets benchmark conditions and performance for future solar reactor improvement via design innovation and multiphysics simulation.

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Section: Validation Of Reversible Catalytic Molten Methane Cracking K...mentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Reversible Catalytic Molten Methane Cracking Kineticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reversible Molten Catalytic Methane Cracking Applied to Commercial Solar-Thermal Receivers

et al. 2020

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“…Studies have shown that carbon black (CB) or activated carbon (AC) catalysts are mainly used as carbon catalyst materials. The initial reaction rate of the AC catalyst was high, and the amount of carbon generated before deactivation was relatively small, whereas for the CB catalyst, the initial reaction rate was low, and the amount of carbon generated before deactivation was relatively large [8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogen Production in Methane Decomposition Reactor Using Solar Thermal Energy

Kim

et al. 2021

Applied Sciences

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This study investigates the decomposition of methane using solar thermal energy as a heat source. Instead of the direct thermal decomposition of the methane at a temperature of 1200 °C or higher, a catalyst coated with carbon black on a metal foam was used to lower the temperature and activation energy required for the reaction, and to increase the yield. To supply solar heat during the reaction, a reactor suitable for a solar concentrating system was developed. In this process, a direct heating type reactor with quartz was initially applied, and a number of problems were identified. An indirect heating type reactor with an insulated cavity and a rotating part was subsequently developed, followed by a thermal barrier coating application. Methane decomposition experiments were conducted in a 40 kW solar furnace at the Korea Institute of Energy Research. Conversion rates of 96.7% and 82.6% were achieved when the methane flow rate was 20 L/min and 40 L/min, respectively.

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“…Como condição para o reator tubular, o tempo de permanência para qualquer elemento do fluido é constante.² A necessidade de simular e testar condições de projeto para um equipamento torna-se uma alternativa de baixo custo e segura, permitindo uma aproximação das condições operacionais reais mediante a utilização de modelos matemáticos. Paxman et al, 3 por análise numérica, conseguiu validar uma simplificação da modelagem matemática de um reator de decomposição térmica do metano frente à um modelo experimental.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Modeling of a non-Isothermal PFR Type Chemical Reactor with Jacket as a Didactic Tool in Chemical Engineering: A Case Study

Santos¹,

Damasceno²,

Silva³

et al. 2019

Rev. Virtual Quim.

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Advances in industrialization and automation of chemical processes have required engineers to specialize in the operational study of equipment such as chemical reactors and heat exchangers. Amongst the most used reactors is the Plug-flow Reactor-PFR, due to its ease of installation and association with heat exchangers such as jackets. However, due to non-homogeneous composition on the axial side of the reactor, PFR operation and evaluation is still a challenge in many industries. This paper introduces a mathematical model that simplifies the ordinary differential equations and integers used in conventional models, in addition to a simulation and a case study with the objective to improve evaluation of equipment operation and sizing.

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Experimental and numerical analysis of a methane thermal decomposition reactor

Cited by 26 publications

References 31 publications

Reversible Molten Catalytic Methane Cracking Applied to Commercial Solar-Thermal Receivers

Reversible Molten Catalytic Methane Cracking Applied to Commercial Solar-Thermal Receivers

Hydrogen Production in Methane Decomposition Reactor Using Solar Thermal Energy

Modeling of a non-Isothermal PFR Type Chemical Reactor with Jacket as a Didactic Tool in Chemical Engineering: A Case Study

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