An Improved Design of Microchannel Fuel Processors

This paper focuses on a new systematic configuration of micro-channel fuel processors, particularly designed for portable applications. An alternative integration method of the micro-channel fuel processors is attempted to overcome the serious thermal unbalance and to minimize the system volume by introducing the direct contact method of the sub-components. An integrated micro-channel methanol processor was developed by assembling unit reactors, which were fabricated by stacking and bounding micro-channel patterned stainless steel plates, including fuel vaporizer, catalytic combustor and steam reformer. Commercially available Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst (ICI Synetix 33-5) was coated inside micro-channel of the unit reactor for steam reforming. The steam reforming reaction was conducted in the temperature range of 200°C to 260°C in the basis of reformer side end-plate and the temperature was controlled by varying methanol feeding into the combustor. More than 99% of methanol was converted at 240°C of reformer side temperature. A mechanism-based numerical model aimed at enhancing physical understanding and optimizing designs has been developed for improved micro-channel fuel processors. A two-dimensional numerical model in the reformer section created to model the phenomena of species transport and reaction occurring at the catalyst surface. The mass, momentum, and species equations were employed with kinetic equations that describe the chemical reaction characteristics to solve flow-field, methanol conversion rate, and species concentration variations along the micro-channel. This mechanism-based model was validated against the experimental data from the literature and then applied to various layouts of the micro-channel fuel processors targeted for the optimal catalyst loading and fuel reforming purpose. The computer-aided models developed in this study can be greatly utilized for the design of advanced fast-paced micro-channel fuel processors research.