Comparison of co-current and counter-current heat integration of methanol to hydrogen wall coated catalytic micro channel reactor by CFD modeling

Mohsen Behnam, University of Tehran
Ali Fazeli, University of Tehran
Shohreh Fatemi, University of Tehran
Yadolah Mortazavi, University of Tehran
A. Khodadai, University of Tehran

Abstract

Hydrogen production from steam reforming of methanol for fuel cell application was modeled in a wall coated micro channel reactor by CFD approach. Heat of steam reforming was supplied from catalytic total oxidation (TOX) of methanol in neighboring channel of steamreforming (SR) channel and conduct from TOX to SR channel through metal divider wall of the channels. Heat integration was compared in co-current and counter-current microreactor by CFD modeling. The model is 2 dimensional, steady state and containing five zones: TOX fluid, TOX catalyst layer, steel wall of the channel, SR catalyst layer, SR fluid. Set of partial differential equations (PDEs) including x and y momentum balance, continuity, partial mass balances and energy balance was solved by finite volume method. And stiff reaction rates were considered for methanol total oxidation (TOX), methanol steam reforming (SR), water gas shift (WGS) and methanol decomposition (MD) reactions, in the model. The results showthat mole fraction of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the outlet of counter-current microreactor is greater than co-current and co-current is better than counter-current for fuel cell application.