Various Transport Phenomena and Modeling in a Methane Reformer Duct for PEMFCs

Författare

Jinliang Yuan
F. Ren
Bengt Sundén

Summary, in English

There are various physical processes (such as mass, heat and momentum transport) integrated with

catalytic chemical reactions in a methane steam reforming duct. It is often found that endothermic and

exothermic reactions in the ducts are strongly coupled by heat transfer from adjacent catalytic combustion

ducts. In this paper, a three-dimensional calculation method is developed to simulate and analyze steam

reforming of methane, and the effects on various transport processes in a steam reforming duct. The

reformer conditions such as mass balances associated with the reforming reactions and gas permeation

to/from the porous catalyst layer are applied in the analysis. The predicted results are presented and

discussed for a composite duct consisting of a porous catalyst reaction area, the gas flow duct and solid

layers. Parametric studies are conducted and the results show that the variables, such as fuel reformer

temperatures and catalyst loadings, have significant effects on the transport processes and reformer

performance.

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