Abstract
In the present article, a series of coupled computational physics - fluid dynamics models were developed aiming at assessing the feasibility of photothermal synthetic fuel production from biogas (biomethane) and steam blends using plasmonic nanostructure Ag/TiO2 substrate (each, 0.1 μm in thickness) inside a thermal, momentum and mass transport boundary layer in a microreactor. A chain of partial and complete biogas reforming and water-gas shift reactions were modelled as the dominant chemical reactions responsible for synthetic fuel production from biomethane. Using equilibrium analysis, plausible thermodynamic operating conditions were identified and applied to the computational models. The effect of light wavelength (λ) on the reaction rate, chemical conversion extent, syngas quality, exergy partitioned in synthetic fuel, and composition of gas products were investigated. The results showed that the performance of the microreactor is wavelength-dependent. It was found that the highest production rate for the synthetic fuel was achieved at 580 nm < λ < 620 nm. Within the same wavelength range, the chemical conversion of biomethane to synthetic fuel reached 85% at steam to methane ratio of 3 and the synthetic fuel quality was >2.05, which is suitable for a Fischer-Tropsch process. It was also identified that the syngas quality of the synthetic fuel can be regulated by adjusting the wavelength of the light. The exposure time was also identified to be a critical parameter affecting the performance of the microreactor. For an exposure duration of up to 10 ns, high quality of synthetic fuel >2.05 can be achieved within the optimum wavelength range of 580 nm < λ < 620 nm.
Published Version
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