Minimizing Heat Transfer Resistance in an Integrated MethanolSteam Reformer Designed Using Space-Filling Curves

Conventional packed bed methanol steam reformers producinghydrogen for PEM fuel cells have an inherent trade-offproblem betweensimultaneously attaining high methanol conversion and low carbon monoxideproduction, owing to high thermal resistance in the packed bed. A sophisticatedreformer design using Hilbert's space-filling curves is proposed and demonstratedusing CFD modeling and simulation. The reactor comprises aflow-through domaindivided into two interdigitating but nonmixing continua that are separated by a thinwall, providing high interfacial area for heat transfer and surface reactions. Theinterfacial wall is modeled as coated with catalyst for performing reforming on oneside and fuel cell anode exhaust hydrogen combustion on the other side. About 84% methanol conversion and CO production less than 2% was achieved due toremarkable reduction in heat transfer resistance. External mass transfer controlled the reactor operation, while reaction kineticsexhibited nontrivial influence on reactor performance.

Automated summary

This article introduces a sophisticated reformer design using Hilbert's space-filling curves, which solves the problem of high thermal resistance in conventional packed bed methanol steam reformers, and achieves high methanol conversion and low carbon monoxide production.