Two-dimensional modeling of a plant-scale fixed-bed reactor for hydrogen production from methanol steam reforming

Methanol as hydrogen carrier can be reformed with steam over CuO/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts. Two-dimensional pseudo-homogenous modeling and numerical simulation studies have been carried out for methanol steam reforming reactor integrating with global kinetics of methanol decomposition and methanol steam reforming. Hydrogen output and thermal behavior were investigated with respect to parameters such as mass flow rate and inlet mass fraction of methanol, external thermal oil inlet temperature and tube diameter. Good agreement was achieved between plant data and simulated data. The results show that temperature distribution changed more dramatically than concentration distribution along axial. Hydrogen production had a positive relationship with methanol mass flow rate, thermal oil inlet temperature. Thermal behavior along radial can be greatly affected by all discussed operating conditions. Large tube diameter was adverse to heat transfer leading to high temperature difference. These simulations can guide for manufacture operation and design of plant-scale reactor.