Four different configurations of a 5 kW class shell-and-tube methane steam reformer with a low-temperature heat source

作者：Yun Jinwon; Cho Kyungin; Lee Young Duk; Yu Sangseok^*

来源：International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2018, 43(9): 4546-4562.

DOI：10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.01.069

• Methane steam reformer
• Hybrid fuel cell system
• Shell and tube heat exchanger
• Low temperature characteristics
• Hydrogen production
• SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell)

The methane steam reforming reaction is an extremely high endothermic reaction that. needs a high temperature heat source. Various fuel cell hybrid systems have been developed to improve the thermal efficiency of the entire system. This paper presents a low temperature steam reformer for those hybrid systems to maximize the utilization of energy from a low temperature waste heat source. In this study, the steam reformer has a shell and tube configuration that is divided into the following zones: the inlet heat exchanging zone, the reforming zone and the exit heat exchanging zone. Four different configurations for methane steam reformers are developed to examine the effect of heat transfer on the methane conversion performance of the low temperature steam reformer. The experimental results show diet the overall heat transfer area is a critical parameter in a high methane conversion rate. When the heat transfer area increases about 30%, the results showed elevated dry mole fractions of hydrogen about 3% with about 30 degrees C rise of reformer outlet temperature.

• 出版日期2018-3-1