TY - JOUR
T1 - Chemical and transport behaviors in a microfluidic reformer with catalytic-support membrane for efficient hydrogen production and purification
AU - Xuan, Jin
AU - Leung, Dennis Y.C.
AU - Leung, Michael K.H.
AU - Ni, Meng
AU - Wang, Huizhi
PY - 2012/2
Y1 - 2012/2
N2 - Microchannel reformer integrated with H2 selective membrane offers an efficient, compact and portable way to produce hydrogen. The performance of a membrane-based microfluidic reformer is restricted by species diffusion limitation within the porous support of the membrane. Recent development in novel catalytic-supported membranes has the potential to enhance H2 production by decimating the diffusion limitation. Loading a Pd-Ag layer on to a Ni-catalytic porous support, the membrane achieves both H 2 separation and production functions. In this study, a two-dimensional CFD model combined with chemical kinetics has been developed to simulate a microchannel autothermal reformer fed by methane. The species conversion and transport behaviors have been studied. The results show that the permeation process enhances the mass transport within the catalytic layer, and as a result, the reactions are intensified. Most notably, the effectiveness factor of the water-gas shift reaction as high as 6 is obtained. In addition, the effects of gaseous hourly space velocity (GHSV) on methane conversion and H2 flux through the membrane are also discussed, and an optimal value of GHSV is suggested. © 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
AB - Microchannel reformer integrated with H2 selective membrane offers an efficient, compact and portable way to produce hydrogen. The performance of a membrane-based microfluidic reformer is restricted by species diffusion limitation within the porous support of the membrane. Recent development in novel catalytic-supported membranes has the potential to enhance H2 production by decimating the diffusion limitation. Loading a Pd-Ag layer on to a Ni-catalytic porous support, the membrane achieves both H 2 separation and production functions. In this study, a two-dimensional CFD model combined with chemical kinetics has been developed to simulate a microchannel autothermal reformer fed by methane. The species conversion and transport behaviors have been studied. The results show that the permeation process enhances the mass transport within the catalytic layer, and as a result, the reactions are intensified. Most notably, the effectiveness factor of the water-gas shift reaction as high as 6 is obtained. In addition, the effects of gaseous hourly space velocity (GHSV) on methane conversion and H2 flux through the membrane are also discussed, and an optimal value of GHSV is suggested. © 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KW - Autothermal reforming
KW - Hydrogen
KW - Membrane
KW - Microfluidics
KW - Porous media
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UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84855836124&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.10.091
DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.10.091
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
SN - 0360-3199
VL - 37
SP - 2614
EP - 2622
JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
IS - 3
ER -
