Steam Reforming of Methanol in a Micro-Channel Reactor with Different Micro-Baffle Shapes

A micro-channel heat exchanger reactor with different micro-baffle shapes was numerically studied. Governing equations was solved base on the finite volume method with FLUENT software. In upper section, oxidationreaction of methanol was occurred and in lower section, steam reforming of methanol was done. Two sectionswere separated with solid part which played as heat exchanger and transferred heat from oxidation reaction tosteam reforming section. In addition to, straight micro-channel, some other types with different micro-baffle shapes, both sides of solid section, were studied. Micro-baffles are thought to act as static mixers, induce furthermixing and improve the convective heat transfer coefficients which eventually expedite heat transfer, soconversion efficiency increases. Also, hydrogen yield obtained with micro-baffle with rectangular shape is 17%higher, on average, than that obtained with the straight configuration. Five different micro-baffles with Rectangular, Triangular, Triangular 90, Trapezoidal and Trapezoidal 90 shapes were studied and higherconversion efficiency for micro-baffles with Trapezoidal shape was achieved. Also, results show that with increasing height of micro-baffle with trapezoidal shape, methanol conversion efficiency increases

Keywords:

micro-baffle , steam reforming , micro-channel reactor , numerical modeling