Modeling of a heat-coupled catalytic reactor with co-current oxidation and conversion flows

Modeling of a Heat‐Integrated Catalytic Reformer/Combustor of Methane: Fine Balancing between Hot Spots and Extinction

“…The experimental prototype of a heat-integrated reformer described in previous work is considered as a modeling reactor example [16]. Structured catalysts based on porous metal supports were used.…”

“…However, this advantage has another disadvantageous aspect, i.e., transversal heat transfer may be hindered because of the essential porosity and the thickness of the endoblock and, consequently, noticeable concentration and temperature gradients become possible. The results of modeling in the work of Kirillov et al [16] showed that such a heat-integrated reactor, may exhibit very complex behavior in spite of the co-current mode of operation, e.g., hysteresis, ignition and extinction phenomena are commonly observed.…”

“…The present study is a continuation earlier work by the current authors [16] and is aimed at detailed theoretical investigation of the influence of the main reactor parameters, i.e., flow rates, axial and transversal coefficients of heat conductivity, reforming and combustion catalyst activity/loading, on the twodimensional, steady-state regimes. As compared to the earlier work [16], some modifications have been introduced in the model, i.e., (i) Catalytic combustion of methane instead of hydrogen in the exochannels, and (ii) A more realistic set of inlet flow rates, compositions and temperatures, which result from the supplementary calculations of an integrated technological scheme of a fuel processor for a PEM fuel cell with an overall thermal efficiency of ∼83 %.…”

“…As compared to the earlier work [16], some modifications have been introduced in the model, i.e., (i) Catalytic combustion of methane instead of hydrogen in the exochannels, and (ii) A more realistic set of inlet flow rates, compositions and temperatures, which result from the supplementary calculations of an integrated technological scheme of a fuel processor for a PEM fuel cell with an overall thermal efficiency of ∼83 %.…”

“…In particular, transition to extinction can happen following a slight increase of reforming gas velocity or decrease in the inlet temperature. In the paper by Kirillov et al [16], a heat-integrated reactor, which couples methane steam reforming and hydrogen combustion, was studied both experimentally and by two-dimensional, twophase modeling. The reactor differs from the aforementioned samples by the design of the reforming channels, which are grouped into endoblocks formed by a sintered stack of alternating corrugated and flat catalyst sheets.…”