Loughborough University
Browse
reed.pdf (1.47 MB)

A multi-function compact fuel reforming reactor for fuel cell applications

Download (1.47 MB)
journal contribution
posted on 2011-04-20, 13:26 authored by James Reed, Rui Chen, Christopher D. Dudfield, Paul L. Adcock
A multi-function compact chemical reactor designed for hydrocarbon steam reforming was evaluated. The reactor design is based on diffusion bonded laminate micro-channel heat exchanger technology. The reactor consists of a combustor layer, which is sandwiched between two steam reforming layers. Between the two function layers, a temperature monitor and control layer is placed, which is designed to locate the temperature sensors. The combustor layer has four individually controlled combustion zones each connected to a separate fuel supply. The reactor design offers the potential to accurately control the temperature distribution along the length of the reactor using closed loop temperature control. The experimental results show that the variance of temperature along the reactor is negligible. The conversion efficiency of the combustor layer is approximately 90%. The heat transfer efficiency from combustion layer to reforming layers is 65% to 85% at 873 K and 673 K, respectively. The heat transfer rate to the reforming layers is sufficient to support a steam reformation of propane at a rate of 0.7 dm3/min (STP) with a steam to carbon ratio of 2 at 873 K.

History

School

  • Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering

Department

  • Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering

Citation

REED, J....et al., 2010. A multi-function compact fuel reforming reactor for fuel cell applications. Fuel, 89(5), pp. 949-957

Publisher

© Elsevier

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publication date

2010

ISSN

0016-2361

Language

  • en