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Modeling and Design of a Multi-Tubular Packed-Bed Reactor for Methanol Steam Reforming over a Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 Catalyst

Author

Listed:
  • Jimin Zhu

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark)

  • Samuel Simon Araya

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark)

  • Xiaoti Cui

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark)

  • Simon Lennart Sahlin

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark)

  • Søren Knudsen Kær

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark)

Abstract

Methanol as a hydrogen carrier can be reformed with steam over Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts. In this paper a comprehensive pseudo-homogenous model of a multi-tubular packed-bed reformer has been developed to investigate the impact of operating conditions and geometric parameters on its performance. A kinetic Langmuir-Hinshelwood model of the methanol steam reforming process was proposed. In addition to the kinetic model, the pressure drop and the mass and heat transfer phenomena along the reactor were taken into account. This model was verified by a dynamic model in the platform of ASPEN. The diffusion effect inside catalyst particles was also estimated and accounted for by the effectiveness factor. The simulation results showed axial temperature profiles in both tube and shell side with different operating conditions. Moreover, the lower flow rate of liquid fuel and higher inlet temperature of thermal air led to a lower concentration of residual methanol, but also a higher concentration of generated CO from the reformer exit. The choices of operating conditions were limited to ensure a tolerable concentration of methanol and CO in H 2 -rich gas for feeding into a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) stack. With fixed catalyst load, the increase of tube number and decrease of tube diameter improved the methanol conversion, but also increased the CO concentration in reformed gas. In addition, increasing the number of baffle plates in the shell side increased the methanol conversion and the CO concentration.

Suggested Citation

  • Jimin Zhu & Samuel Simon Araya & Xiaoti Cui & Simon Lennart Sahlin & Søren Knudsen Kær, 2020. "Modeling and Design of a Multi-Tubular Packed-Bed Reactor for Methanol Steam Reforming over a Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 Catalyst," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:3:p:610-:d:315015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Huajing & Xu, Chao & Yu, Hangyu & Wu, Hao & Jin, Fei & Xiao, Feng & Liao, Zhirong, 2022. "Enhancement of methanol steam reforming in a tubular fixed-bed reactor with simultaneous heating inside and outside," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    2. Ha, Chan & Zhou, Zhaozhou & Qin, Jiang & Wang, Cong & Liu, Zekuan & Leng, Shuang, 2024. "Structural optimization calculation of methanol spiral tube reformer based on waste heat utilization and experimental verification of reactor performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    3. Li, Na & Cui, Xiaoti & Zhu, Jimin & Zhou, Mengfan & Liso, Vincenzo & Cinti, Giovanni & Sahlin, Simon Lennart & Araya, Samuel Simon, 2023. "A review of reformed methanol-high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    4. Giovanni Cinti & Vincenzo Liso & Simon Lennart Sahlin & Samuel Simon Araya, 2020. "System Design and Modeling of a High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Operated with Ammonia as a Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.
    5. Kiara Capreece Premlall & David Lokhat, 2020. "Reducing Energy Requirements in the Production of Acrylic Acid: Simulation and Design of a Multitubular Reactor Train," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-14, April.

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