CFD Modeling of PROX Microreactor for Fuel Processing
In order to investigate a PROX microreactor
performance, two-dimensional modeling of the reacting flow
between two parallel plates is performed through a finite volume
method using an improved SIMPLE algorithm. A three-step surface
kinetics including hydrogen oxidation, carbon monoxide oxidation
and water-gas shift reaction is applied for a Pt-Fe/γ-Al2O3 catalyst
and operating temperatures of about 100ºC. Flow pattern, pressure
field, temperature distribution, and mole fractions of species are
found in the whole domain for all cases. Also, the required reactive
length for removing carbon monoxide from about 2% to less than 10
ppm is found. Furthermore, effects of hydraulic diameter, wall
temperature, and inlet mole fraction of air and water are investigated
by considering carbon monoxide selectivity and conversion. It is
found that air and water addition may improve the performance of
the microreactor in carbon monoxide removal in such operating
conditions; this is in agreement with the pervious published results.
[1] H. Jing, "Mathematical and empirical modeling of chemical reactions in
a microreactor," Ph.D. dissertation, College of Eng. & Science,
Louisiana Tech Univ., United States, 2004.
[2] Y. Choi, H.G. Stenger, "Kinetics, simulation and insights for CO
selective oxidation in fuel cell applications," Journal of Power Sources,
129, 2004, pp. 246-254.
[3] X. Ouyang, L. Bednarova, and R.S. Besser, "Preferential oxidation
(PrOx) in a thin-film catalytic microreactor: Advantages and
Limitations," AIChE Journal, 51, 2005, pp. 1758-1771.
[4] M. Ternan, "Hydrogen production from small fuel processors," H Power
Enterprises of Canada Inc., Internal report, E-99-013-PF-Rev.0, 1999.
[5] A. Sirijaruphan, J.G. Goodwin, and R.W. Rice, "Effect of temperature
and pressure on the surface kinetic parameters of Pt//╬│-Al2O3 during
selective CO oxidation," Journal of Catalysis, 227, 2004, pp. 547-551.
[6] X. Ouyang, R.S. Besser, "Effect of reactor heat transfer limitations on
CO preferential oxidation," Journal of Power Sources, 141, 2005, pp.
39-46.
[7] G. Karniadakis, A. Beskok, and N. Aluru, Microflows and Nanoflows -
Fundamentals and Simulation, New York: Springer, 2005.
[8] S.R. Turns, An Introduction to Combustion, New York: McGraw-Hill,
2000.
[1] H. Jing, "Mathematical and empirical modeling of chemical reactions in
a microreactor," Ph.D. dissertation, College of Eng. & Science,
Louisiana Tech Univ., United States, 2004.
[2] Y. Choi, H.G. Stenger, "Kinetics, simulation and insights for CO
selective oxidation in fuel cell applications," Journal of Power Sources,
129, 2004, pp. 246-254.
[3] X. Ouyang, L. Bednarova, and R.S. Besser, "Preferential oxidation
(PrOx) in a thin-film catalytic microreactor: Advantages and
Limitations," AIChE Journal, 51, 2005, pp. 1758-1771.
[4] M. Ternan, "Hydrogen production from small fuel processors," H Power
Enterprises of Canada Inc., Internal report, E-99-013-PF-Rev.0, 1999.
[5] A. Sirijaruphan, J.G. Goodwin, and R.W. Rice, "Effect of temperature
and pressure on the surface kinetic parameters of Pt//╬│-Al2O3 during
selective CO oxidation," Journal of Catalysis, 227, 2004, pp. 547-551.
[6] X. Ouyang, R.S. Besser, "Effect of reactor heat transfer limitations on
CO preferential oxidation," Journal of Power Sources, 141, 2005, pp.
39-46.
[7] G. Karniadakis, A. Beskok, and N. Aluru, Microflows and Nanoflows -
Fundamentals and Simulation, New York: Springer, 2005.
[8] S.R. Turns, An Introduction to Combustion, New York: McGraw-Hill,
2000.
@article{"International Journal of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Sciences:50290", author = "M. Vahabi and M. H. Akbari", title = "CFD Modeling of PROX Microreactor for Fuel Processing", abstract = "In order to investigate a PROX microreactor
performance, two-dimensional modeling of the reacting flow
between two parallel plates is performed through a finite volume
method using an improved SIMPLE algorithm. A three-step surface
kinetics including hydrogen oxidation, carbon monoxide oxidation
and water-gas shift reaction is applied for a Pt-Fe/γ-Al2O3 catalyst
and operating temperatures of about 100ºC. Flow pattern, pressure
field, temperature distribution, and mole fractions of species are
found in the whole domain for all cases. Also, the required reactive
length for removing carbon monoxide from about 2% to less than 10
ppm is found. Furthermore, effects of hydraulic diameter, wall
temperature, and inlet mole fraction of air and water are investigated
by considering carbon monoxide selectivity and conversion. It is
found that air and water addition may improve the performance of
the microreactor in carbon monoxide removal in such operating
conditions; this is in agreement with the pervious published results.", keywords = "CFD, Fuel Processing, PROX, Reacting Flow,
SIMPLE algorithm.", volume = "2", number = "7", pages = "864-6", }