(619b) Testing of Methane Steam Reforming in a Novel Structured Catalytic Reactor Providing Flow Impingement Heat Transfer

A new structured reactor concept called the ZoneFlow? reactor was tested against commercially available methane steam reforming pellets at the Hydrogen Production and Utilization laboratory of UC Davis. The observed variables under steam reforming conditions were relative heat transfer, methane conversion, and pressure drop. ZoneFlow reactors use a washcoated metal foil substrate and incorporate an outer zone or casing designed specifically to promote flow impingement on the tube wall boundary layer and an inner zone or core designed for relatively low permeability. It is thought that this configuration may provide optimal mass flow and velocity through the respective zones to engineer and balance simultaneous improvements of heat transfer, kinetics, and pressure drop. In some configurations the active metal catalyst, either Ni or Pt/Rh alloy, was differentially placed on the core and casing to reduce the distance between the heat source (tube) and the heat sink (reaction sites). The independent effects of heated reactor length, mass flow, reactor type and active metal catalyst as related to heat transfer, methane conversion and pressure drop were measured.