Computational fluid dynamics study of the effect of catalyst segmentation on the efficiency and performance of autothermal reformers for hydrogen production
Improvements in autothermal steam reforming reactors would be highly beneficial to the production of hydrogen. The design of the reactors may be optimized by reducing catalyst requirements while effectively increasing catalyst’s efficiency. The present study relates to a catalytic process of steam–m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Energy Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484722017632 |
| _version_ | 1797901873001267200 |
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| author | Junjie Chen Wei Ge |
| author_facet | Junjie Chen Wei Ge |
| author_sort | Junjie Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Improvements in autothermal steam reforming reactors would be highly beneficial to the production of hydrogen. The design of the reactors may be optimized by reducing catalyst requirements while effectively increasing catalyst’s efficiency. The present study relates to a catalytic process of steam–methanol reforming for the production of hydrogen in an autothermal heterogeneous reaction system. Various catalyst segmentation methods are employed to maximize product yields and minimize the amount of the catalyst. Computations were carried out with respect to various factors pertaining to catalyst segments, such as length, number, thickness, and loading. The effects of various segmentation methods and key parameters on reaction and transport processes are investigated in terms of performance and efficiency. Design recommendations are made to improve overall reaction rates and yields. The results indicated that the factors pertaining to catalyst segments are fundamentally important. A desired level of reactor performance can be maintained through the use of catalyst segmentation, while reducing the amount of the reforming catalyst by half or more. However, to ensure the effectiveness of catalyst segmentation, the number of catalyst segments must be sufficiently large and the thermal conductivity of the walls must be sufficiently high. The thickness of catalyst segments can be tailored to avoid the limitations imposed by chemical kinetics. The parallel flow design is more effective than the counter flow design. The loading of the catalytically active material significantly affects the performance of the reactor. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:08:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-76416c81c5974f98b6fb9bbc150c8d98 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-4847 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:08:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Energy Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-76416c81c5974f98b6fb9bbc150c8d982023-02-21T05:13:26ZengElsevierEnergy Reports2352-48472022-11-0181196511980Computational fluid dynamics study of the effect of catalyst segmentation on the efficiency and performance of autothermal reformers for hydrogen productionJunjie Chen0Wei Ge1Corresponding author.; Department of Energy and Power Engineering, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, 2000 Century Avenue, Jiaozuo, Henan, 454000, PR ChinaDepartment of Energy and Power Engineering, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, 2000 Century Avenue, Jiaozuo, Henan, 454000, PR ChinaImprovements in autothermal steam reforming reactors would be highly beneficial to the production of hydrogen. The design of the reactors may be optimized by reducing catalyst requirements while effectively increasing catalyst’s efficiency. The present study relates to a catalytic process of steam–methanol reforming for the production of hydrogen in an autothermal heterogeneous reaction system. Various catalyst segmentation methods are employed to maximize product yields and minimize the amount of the catalyst. Computations were carried out with respect to various factors pertaining to catalyst segments, such as length, number, thickness, and loading. The effects of various segmentation methods and key parameters on reaction and transport processes are investigated in terms of performance and efficiency. Design recommendations are made to improve overall reaction rates and yields. The results indicated that the factors pertaining to catalyst segments are fundamentally important. A desired level of reactor performance can be maintained through the use of catalyst segmentation, while reducing the amount of the reforming catalyst by half or more. However, to ensure the effectiveness of catalyst segmentation, the number of catalyst segments must be sufficiently large and the thermal conductivity of the walls must be sufficiently high. The thickness of catalyst segments can be tailored to avoid the limitations imposed by chemical kinetics. The parallel flow design is more effective than the counter flow design. The loading of the catalytically active material significantly affects the performance of the reactor.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484722017632Reactor designFuel cellsTransport phenomenaThermal managementMass transferProcess intensification |
| spellingShingle | Junjie Chen Wei Ge Computational fluid dynamics study of the effect of catalyst segmentation on the efficiency and performance of autothermal reformers for hydrogen production Energy Reports Reactor design Fuel cells Transport phenomena Thermal management Mass transfer Process intensification |
| title | Computational fluid dynamics study of the effect of catalyst segmentation on the efficiency and performance of autothermal reformers for hydrogen production |
| title_full | Computational fluid dynamics study of the effect of catalyst segmentation on the efficiency and performance of autothermal reformers for hydrogen production |
| title_fullStr | Computational fluid dynamics study of the effect of catalyst segmentation on the efficiency and performance of autothermal reformers for hydrogen production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Computational fluid dynamics study of the effect of catalyst segmentation on the efficiency and performance of autothermal reformers for hydrogen production |
| title_short | Computational fluid dynamics study of the effect of catalyst segmentation on the efficiency and performance of autothermal reformers for hydrogen production |
| title_sort | computational fluid dynamics study of the effect of catalyst segmentation on the efficiency and performance of autothermal reformers for hydrogen production |
| topic | Reactor design Fuel cells Transport phenomena Thermal management Mass transfer Process intensification |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484722017632 |
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