CFD Investigation of a Hydrogen Reformer Furnace for Improved Flow Distribution

A hydrogen reformer furnace is a combustion chamber used to supply heat for the catalytic process that converts natural gas into hydrogen. The reforming reaction that happens inside the catalyst tubes is endothermic and requiring high levels of heat input. The combustion process in the hydrogen reformer furnace provides the heat to maintain the chemical reaction inside the tubes. Consequently, heat control in the hydrogen reformer furnace is one of the most important factors for the catalytic reforming process. The previous investigation indicates the uneven heat distribution inside the furnace has caused the aging issue of catalyst tubes. Hence, optimization of heat distribution inside the furnace is a vital step of the catalytic reforming process. Utilizing the multiphase and non-premixed model of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamic), the thermal behavior inside the furnace has been investigated. Results revealed that both the gaps on the sidewall of the tunnel and the location of air distribution wall have impact on the temperature distribution of catalyst tubes. The performance of each configuration with different parameters is carried out to provide a great deal of insight for industry field.