CFD and Experimental Design Analysis of Methane Reforming in Micro-Channel Reactor of SOFC System Using OpenFOAM: Effect of Operational Parameters on the Hydrogen Yield

The present work deals with a 2D numerical modelling of the Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) process in Micro Channel Reactors (MCR). A calculation code solving laminar flow, heat balance, and species equations was developed in the basis of OpenFOAM (Open Field Operation and Manipulation) platform. First, the developed numerical model was validated against experimental data from literature, and then used to explore the hydrodynamic, thermal, and mass behavior of SMR reaction within a MCR plane configuration. Strong methane conversion has been noticed and the MCR first half leading to a maximal hydrogen production at this zone. Given the importance of this observation, a sensitivity analysis using Design of Experiment method has been carried out to investigate the effect of the most influential parameters (operational pressure and temperature, and inlet velocity). Finally, the most optimal parameter values giving the highest H2 production yield are identified.