Computational Analysis of Gas Flow and Heat Transport Phenomena in Monolithic Structures for High Temperature Processes

High-temperature catalytic processes such as partial oxidation of Methane (POX) and steam Methane reforming (SMR) may benefit from use of reactor systems using monolithic honeycomb structures. Hereby, process performance is enhanced through more efficient heat transfer and considerable smaller reactor foot-prints than for conventional reactor concepts. Compact ceramic heat exchange structures may also be an interesting option for increasing the energy efficiency of high temperature processes in general. One example is single cycle turbines where these structures can be used as recuperators. The purpose of this paper is to describe modelling of gas flow pattern and heat transfer in reactors and heat exchangers with monolithic based structures. This technology is currently under development in a partnership of European companies and academia, with financial support from the EC and Swiss Government. The mathematical model developed for heat transfer and flow maldistribution has been used for counter-current checkerboard channel-arrangement. Pressure drop has been analyzed both experimentally and numerically (computation fluid dynamics, CFD). Power density has been shown to depend on various reactor parameters. Channel geometry, inlet gas temperature difference and channel wall thickness have been calculated to find the influence on power density.