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Transport phenomena and performance of a plate methanol steam micro-reformer with serpentine flow field design

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  • Hsueh, Ching-Yi
  • Chu, Hsin-Sen
  • Yan, Wei-Mon
  • Chen, Chiun-Hsun

Abstract

A numerical investigation of the transport phenomena and performance of a plate methanol steam micro-reformer with serpentine flow field as a function of wall temperature, fuel ratio and Reynolds number are presented. The fuel Reynolds number and H2O/CH3OH molar ratio (S/C) that influence the transport phenomena and methanol conversion are explored in detail. In addition, the effects of various wall temperatures on the plates that heat the channel are also investigated. The predictions show that conduction through the wall plays a significant effect on the temperature distribution and must be considered in the modeling. The predictions also indicate that a higher wall temperature enhances the chemical reaction rate which, in turn, significantly increases the methanol conversion. The methanol conversion is also improved by decreasing the Reynolds number or increasing the S/C molar ratio. When the serpentine flow field of the channel is heated either through top plate (YÂ =Â 1) or the bottom plate (YÂ =Â 0), we observe a higher degree of methanol conversion for the case with top plate heating. This is due to the stronger chemical reaction for the case with top plate heating.

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  • Hsueh, Ching-Yi & Chu, Hsin-Sen & Yan, Wei-Mon & Chen, Chiun-Hsun, 2010. "Transport phenomena and performance of a plate methanol steam micro-reformer with serpentine flow field design," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(10), pages 3137-3147, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:87:y:2010:i:10:p:3137-3147
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    2. Perng, Shiang-Wuu & Wu, Horng-Wen, 2010. "Effect of the prominent catalyst layer surface on reactant gas transport and cell performance at the cathodic side of a PEMFC," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1386-1399, April.
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    2. Wu, Horng-Wen & Ku, Hui-Wen, 2011. "The optimal parameters estimation for rectangular cylinders installed transversely in the flow channel of PEMFC from a three-dimensional PEMFC model and the Taguchi method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(12), pages 4879-4890.
    3. Wijaya, Willy Yanto & Kawasaki, Shunsuke & Watanabe, Hirotatsu & Okazaki, Ken, 2012. "Damköhler number as a descriptive parameter in methanol steam reforming and its integration with absorption heat pump system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 141-147.
    4. Iulianelli, A. & Ribeirinha, P. & Mendes, A. & Basile, A., 2014. "Methanol steam reforming for hydrogen generation via conventional and membrane reactors: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 355-368.
    5. Xuan, Jin & Leung, Michael K.H. & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Wang, Huizhi, 2012. "Towards orientation-independent performance of membraneless microfluidic fuel cell: Understanding the gravity effects," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 80-86.
    6. Cheng, Chin-Hsiang & Huang, Yu-Xian & King, Shun-Chih & Lee, Chun-I & Leu, Chih-Hsing, 2014. "CFD (computational fluid dynamics)-based optimal design of a micro-reformer by integrating computational a fluid dynamics code using a simplified conjugate-gradient method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 355-365.
    7. Perng, Shiang-Wuu & Horng, Rong-Fang & Ku, Hui-Wen, 2013. "Effects of reaction chamber geometry on the performance and heat/mass transport phenomenon for a cylindrical methanol steam reformer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 317-327.
    8. Perng, Shiang-Wuu & Wu, Horng-Wen, 2022. "Influence of inlet-nozzle and outlet-diffuser mounted in the plate-shape reactor on PEMFC net power output and methanol steam reforming performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    9. Miao Qian & Jie Li & Zhong Xiang & Chao Yan & Xudong Hu, 2019. "Effect of Pin Diameter Degressive Gradient on Heat Transfer in a Microreactor with Non-Uniform Pin-Fin Array under Low Reynolds Number Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-12, July.
    10. Chiu, Han-Chieh & Jang, Jer-Huan & Yan, Wei-Mon & Li, Hung-Yi & Liao, Chih-Cheng, 2012. "A three-dimensional modeling of transport phenomena of proton exchange membrane fuel cells with various flow fields," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 359-370.
    11. Zhao, Kai & Tian, Zhenyu & Zhang, Jinrui & Lu, Buchu & Hao, Yong, 2023. "Methanol steam reforming reactor with fractal tree-shaped structures for photovoltaic–thermochemical hybrid power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 330(PB).
    12. Wang, Qing-Hui & Yang, Song & Zhou, Wei & Li, Jing-Rong & Xu, Zhi-Jia & Ke, Yu-Zhi & Yu, Wei & Hu, Guang-Hua, 2018. "Optimizing the porosity configuration of porous copper fiber sintered felt for methanol steam reforming micro-reactor based on flow distribution," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 243-261.
    13. Kim, Taegyu & Jo, Sungkwon & Song, Young-Hoon & Lee, Dae Hoon, 2014. "Synergetic mechanism of methanol–steam reforming reaction in a catalytic reactor with electric discharges," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1692-1699.

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