Parametric Analysis of Methanol Steam Reforming Reactor for Hydrogen Production

A mathematical model was developed to investigate the performance of a methanol steam reformer in a catalytic bed tubular reactor. Through a series of simulation studies, due to the complete conversion of methanol and the optimal hydrogen production, the operating boundary conditions (operating temperature ۴۹۳ K and optimal S/C ratio ۱.۴) were determined. In this paper, the effect of reaction temperature and reactor length changes on the design of a methanol steam reformer for hydrogen production in a catalytic reactor is investigated. Basic research includes analysis of the effect of design and operational parameters on methanol conversion and quality of modified gas production (CO content). The results showed that at the beginning of the reactor the rate of hydrogen production is high and also with increasing the reaction temperature, fuel conversion is faster and the rate of hydrogen production increases by an average of ۱۰%. This study leads to the finalization of operational parameters and design philosophy of methanol steam reformer for hydrogen production at ۵ SLPM as a polymer fuel cell feed.The process of reforming hydrocarbons (such as methane, methanol, and ethanol as fuels) is a viable option for hydrogen production. Under standard conditions, liquid methanol has significant properties such as high energy density, high H/C ratio, no C-C bond and the presence of -OH functional group, cheap and easy to carry [i]. In the present paper, an SMR system that delivers hydrogen-rich reformed gas at a rate of ۵ SLPM for the fuel cell was simulated and analyzed using a methanol-water mixture as fuel in ASPEN PLUS software.In the SMR process, there are three main reactions that include (......)The catalyst in the methanol vapor reforming reaction is CuO/ZnO/Al۲O۳, the reaction kinetic equations of which are shown below [ii].(.....)The above kinetic model is used to describe the SMR reactions based on the steady state analysis of the reaction mechanisms on the catalyst. The characteristics of the reactor and catalyst considered for the model are in accordance with Table (۱).Changes in the concentration of output components of the reactor and the amount of hydrogen production at different temperatures according to the length of the reactor were shown in Figure (۱) and (۲), respectively.As shown in Figure (۱), at first, the reforming reaction proceeds at a high rate, but during the reactor, the rate gradually decreases. Also, according to Figure (۲), it can be concluded that higher operating temperature will increase the reaction rate and as a result, the rate of hydrogen production will increase.A mathematical model based on steady state analysis for the kinetics of methanol steam reforming reaction with the structure of a tubular packed bed reactor with CuO/ZnO/Al۲O۳ catalyst was discussed. Operational and geometrical parameters were investigated in a tubular reactor with a hydrogen production rate of ۵ SLPM. According to the results, it was found that with increasing temperature, the rate of hydrogen production will increase.