Chemical and transport behaviors in a microfluidic reformer with catalytic-support membrane for efficient hydrogen production and purification

Microchannel reformer integrated with H2 selective membrane offers an efficient, compact and portable way to produce hydrogen. The performance of a membrane-based microfluidic reformer is restricted by species diffusion limitation within the porous support of the membrane. Recent development in novel catalytic-supported membranes has the potential to enhance H2 production by decimating the diffusion limitation. Loading a Pd-Ag layer on to a Ni-catalytic porous support, the membrane achieves both H2 separation and production functions. In this study, a two-dimensional CFD model combined with chemical kinetics has been developed to simulate a microchannel autothermal reformer fed by methane. The species conversion and transport behaviors have been studied. The results show that the permeation process enhances the mass transport within the catalytic layer, and as a result, the reactions are intensified. Most notably, the effectiveness factor of the water-gas shift reaction as high as 6 is obtained. In addition, the effects of gaseous hourly space velocity (GHSV) on methane conversion and H2 flux through the membrane are also discussed, and an optimal value of GHSV is suggested.

► We model catalytic-support membrane reformer for H2 production.
► Detailed chemical and transport pattern inside the membrane is revealed.
► The permeation process enhances the mass transport within the catalytic layer.
► An optimized GHSV of 18,000 is suggested.