Hydrogen production from methanol steam reforming using porous copper fiber sintered felt with gradient porosity

A novel porous copper fiber sintered felt (PCFSF) with gradient porosity is fabricated with the multi-step mold pressing and solid-phase sintering method using the cutting copper fibers. Using the impregnation method, the PCFSF as catalyst support is loaded with Cu/Zn/ Al/Zr catalyst, and then is embedded into the laminated-sheet methanol steam reforming microreactor for hydrogen production. Based on the SEM results, the microstructures and surface morphology of PCFSF are analyzed. The reaction characteristics of PCFSF with gradient porosity loaded with Cu/Zn/AVZr catalyst for methanol steam reforming are experimental investigated under different gas hourly space velocities (GHSVs) and reaction temperatures. Our results indicate that the gradient porosity in the PCFSF has a significant influence on the reaction performance. The PCFSF with three-grade porosity (70%-80%-90%) exhibits better methanol conversion and H-2 flow rate when the reactant is fed from 90% to 70% porosity portion. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.