Effects of fin structure size on methane-steam reforming for hydrogen production in a reactor heated by waste heat

This paper mainly describes the influence of changes in fin structure on the hydrogen production capacity of the methane-steam reforming system. The model of the triangular-fin-tube steam generator was set up. The effects of the fin height (34 mm-46 mm), fin root width (3 mm-6 mm) and the fin-type were studied. As the height of the fin increases (34 mm-46 mm), the CPC temperature at the outlet of the steam generator decreases (the maximum temperature decreases 23.6 K and the average temperature decreases 18.9 K). At the same time, the heat recovery efficiency increased from 96.3% to 98.4%, and so the system hydrogen production increases. As the fin root width increases (3 mm-6 mm), the CPC temperature at the outlet of the steam generator decreases (the maximum temperature decreases 3.7 K and the average temperature decreases 1.2 K). Meanwhile, the heat recovery efficiency increases from 97.5% to 98.1%, and so the system hydrogen production increases. When the fin type is changed from a straight fin to a triangular-fin, the average temperature of the solid particle decreases 30.5 K, the heat recovery efficiency increases by 7.9%, and the system hydrogen production increases. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.