Fabrication and Demonstration of Planar Micro-Reactors for Solar Steam Methane Reforming

Abstract

This paper presents a novel solar micro-reactor architecture for cheap hydrogen production by methane reforming. Using microfabrication techniques to create three-dimensional channel networks in diffusion-bonded plates, all the sub-processes required for methane reforming are integrated in a small unit, which is well suited for implementation on cheap and well-established solar parabolic troughs. Monolithic integration of the sub-processes allows heat recovery from the high temperature reaction to the lower temperature endothermic processes such as water vaporization and reagent preheating. To demonstrate the manufacturing feasibility as well as the sufficient catalytic activity, a 4.5W stainless steel demonstrator is built and tested in the laboratory. Results show a complete methane conversion for temperatures over 850°C at a space velocity of 35 000 ml/h*mlcat.