3D-Printed Regular-Porous Structure with Trapezoidal Multiple Microchannels as Combustion Reaction Support for the Autothermal Methanol Steam Reforming Microreactor for Hydrogen Production

To decrease the temperature difference per unit temperature (Delta TA) of an autothermal methanol steam reforming (ATMSR) microreactor for hydrogen production (HP) and enhance its long-term HP performance for supplying long-term stable hydrogen source for fuel cell vehicles, a three-dimensional (3D)-printed regular-porous structure with multiple microchannels is developed as combustion reaction support (CRS) of the ATMSR microreactor. A regular-porous structure with multiple microchannels is designed as CRS based on the temperature distribution model of methanol combustion (MC) reaction support established according to the MC reaction mechanism. Reactant concentration and temperature distributions of the regular-porous CRSs with various multiple microchannels are studied by numerical simulation. Combustion performances of regular-porous CRS with optimized multiple microchannels, nonoptimized regular-porous CRS, and nickel foam CRS with optimized multiple microchannels are compared by experiments. HP performances of ATMSR microreactors with the optimized and nonoptimized regular-porous CRSs are also compared. The results show that compared to the nonoptimized regular-porous CRS and the optimized nickel foam CRS, the Delta TA of the optimized regular-porous CRS decreases by 58.6 and 15.6%, respectively. Due to the less carbon deposition and particle agglomeration of the HP catalyst realized by the optimized regular-porous CRS, the ATMSR microreactor with the CRS can display better long-term HP performance. This research work offers a new method for enhancing the long-term HP performance of the ATMSR microreactor.

Automated summary

By designing and optimizing a regular-porous structure with multiple microchannels as combustion reaction support, the temperature difference of the autothermal methanol steam reforming microreactor can be decreased, and its long-term performance in supplying stable hydrogen source is enhanced.