Integration design optimization of self-thermal methanol steam reforming microreactor for hydrogen production

Abstract

To enhance hydrogen production (HP) capability of self-thermal methanol steam reforming microreactor (MSRM), the integration design of MSRM is optimized from the aspects of the structure of combustion catalyst support (CCS), the number of CCS, the relative flow direction between HP reactant and combustion reactant, and the capability amplification mode of the microreactor. The results show that, when the microreactor uses the CCS with optimized structure in its front-end and integrates 2 CCSs with non-optimized structure in its back-end, meanwhile adopting the opposite flow direction between HP reactant and combustion reactant, as well as employing the number-amplified capability amplification method, it can obtain higher HP capability, whose CH3OH conversion, H2 quantity and CO selectivity are up to 100%, 2.519 mol/h and 4.43%, respectively, at the feed quantity of 48 mL/h methanol-water compound (fuel for HP) and 3.2 mL/min methanol (fuel for combustion).