Cross-flow plate reactor for ethanol steam reforming: A theoretical study

Abstract

In this contribution, a theoretical study of ethanol steam reforming (ESR) over a Pd-based catalyst in a plate microreactor is carried out. ESR is convectively heated by means of a flue gas stream flowing through contiguous plates in a cross-flow configuration. To describe the performance of the reactor under steady-state adiabatic operation a pseudo homogeneous 2D model is considered. The influence of the main operating variables and the different flue gas feed arrangements on the performance of the reformer has been analysed with the aim of accomplishing a total hydrogen production of 1 kWth. The results show that the cross-flow plate reactor is a promising design to carry out the ESR under operating and design conditions that favour thermal homogeneity (high heat transfer) and a high enough residence time of the reactants in the reforming side.