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Numerical Analysis of Methanol Steam Reforming Reactor for kW-Scale Fuel Cells

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Proceedings of the 10th Hydrogen Technology Convention, Volume 2 (WHTC 2023)

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Physics ((SPPHY,volume 394))

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Abstract

As an efficient energy conversion device, fuel cells are increasingly being applied. Fuel supply is the core link to ensure the normal operation of fuel cells. In this paper, a methanol steam reforming reactor was designed to supply fuels for kW-scale fuel cells. The effects of steam to carbon ratio (S/C), combustion temperature and liquid speed velocity (LHSV) on reforming performance were studied by CFD method. The results shown that the S/C and combustion temperature are the main factors affecting the reforming performance. As the S/C and combustion temperature increases, the methanol conversion rate increases, reaching a maximum of 99.85%. But using the methanol aqueous solution with high S/C for reforming, the H2O content in the hydrogen rich gas is high, which reducing the power generation performance of the fuel cell. 1.2 is the best S/C for reforming to get the greatest reforming performance by experiments and simulations. Due to the structure limit, excessively high combustion temperature leads to the local high temperature areas in the reforming chamber that caused the methanation. Reducing the LHSV can increase the methanol conversion rate. Supplying fuel for 1kW SOFC, the LHSV of the reactor is 1.3 h−1. It is feasible to expand the reactor power through proportional scaling. After increasing the heat supply, the methanol conversion rates of both 50kW and 100kW reactors can reach over 96%.

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Acknowledgement

This research work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (2022NSFS0225), Lishui Key Research Project (2021ZDYF01) and Leading Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team in Zhejiang Province (2020R02015).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, 610500, China

    Yang Hu & Chuanjun Han

  2. Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute, Tsinghua University, Chengdu, 610500, China

    Wenying Li

  3. Lishui University, Lishui, 323000, China

    Qiang Hu

  4. Zhejiang Zhentai Energy Technology Co. Ltd, Lishui, 323000, China

    Qiang Hu & Hongsong Wu

  5. PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gas Field Company, Chengdu, 610500, China

    Qi Li

Authors
  1. Yang Hu
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  2. Chuanjun Han
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  3. Wenying Li
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  4. Qiang Hu
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  5. Hongsong Wu
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  6. Qi Li
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Chuanjun Han or Wenying Li .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, China

    Hexu Sun

  2. Power Grid Sciences and Technology Lab, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Wei Pei

  3. Department of New Energy Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China

    Yan Dong

  4. Department of Fuel Cells, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China

    Hongmei Yu

  5. Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

    Shi You

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© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

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Hu, Y., Han, C., Li, W., Hu, Q., Wu, H., Li, Q. (2024). Numerical Analysis of Methanol Steam Reforming Reactor for kW-Scale Fuel Cells. In: Sun, H., Pei, W., Dong, Y., Yu, H., You, S. (eds) Proceedings of the 10th Hydrogen Technology Convention, Volume 2. WHTC 2023. Springer Proceedings in Physics, vol 394. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8585-2_2

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