Flow, Transport, and Reaction Interactions in Shaped Cylindrical Particles for Steam Methane Reforming

Complex interactions between steam methane reforming reaction rates, conduction, and diffusion inside cylindrical catalyst particles with holes, and the external flow and temperature fields near the heated tube wall were shown in detail using computational fluid dynamics and compared to prior work on full cylinders. This work highlights the differences caused by the particle features. Simulations were done under industrial tube inlet conditions at a constant pressure drop for one-, three-, four-, and six-hole cylinders. Heat and mass fluxes were within 10% for all particle surfaces; the holes provided the reactant good access to the particles. The six-hole catalyst particles offered the best temperature distribution and reaction rate. However, the four-hole particles gave a higher mass flow rate and lower tube-wall temperature for a set pressure drop.