Fuel processing in a ceramic microchannel reactor: Expanding operating windows

摘要: Abstract Ceramic microchannel reactors offer significant advantages to current reactor technology. micro-reactors are able operate at high temperatures and harsh chemical environments through the use of relatively inexpensive materials manufacturing processes. Coupled with self-sustained operation autothermal reforming (ATR) or catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) methane, ceramic can increase efficiency expand capabilities hydrogen syngas production. This work aims assess performance a novel for wide variety methane conditions reactive flow rates. Additionally, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model implemented in ANSYS Fluent simulates flow, heat transfer, catalyzed heterogeneous chemistry three-dimensional model. Experimental testing demonstrates stable both ATR CPOX; no evidence structural catalyst degradation is observed presence exothermic chemistry. Autothermal shows promising results, achieving ∼90% conversion gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) 75,000 h −1 . CFD results accurately predict outputs from experimental data provide further insight into internal reaction kinetics.