College of Engineering

Protrusions can be used to improve the transport processes involved, but the causes of the phenomena are still incompletely understood. Computational fluid dynamics analyses are performed under different sets of circumstances to gain insights into the physics of heat and mass transfer processes in a protruded millisecond microchannel reactor, wherein a steam reforming reaction is proceeding and protrusions are used to improve the transport processes involved. Recommendations are made on how to optimize design for better reactor performance. Particular emphasis is placed on delineating the role of methanol-air equivalence ratio and channel length in reactor performance. The results indicate that the equivalence ratio and channel length must be adjusted as needed to minimize pressure drops and maximize production of hydrogen. Necessary adjustments to the equivalence ratio of methanol to air can be made to control the maximum reactor temperature within certain needed limits. The short-channel design may be preferred over the long-channel design in order to simultaneously achieve low pressure drops and sufficiently high conversions in the reactor. Expectable compromises have to be made between hydrogen productivity and pressure drop.