Catalysis

Process (computing)

Engineering

Materials science

Steam reforming

Coating

Ceramic

Operating system

Telecommunications

Biochemistry

Microreactor

Methanol

Computer science

Chemical engineering

Waste management

Thermodynamics

Packed bed

Physics

Nuclear engineering

Organic chemistry

Pressure drop

Process engineering

Environmental science

Composite material

Chemistry

Channel (broadcasting)

Cubic zirconia

Drop (telecommunication)

Hydrogen production

Electrical engineering

Chemical Engineering Journal

Catalyst coating in micro-channel reactor for steam reforming of methanol (SRM) is advantageous compared to micro-packed reactor as one part of fuel processor in the application of fuel cell for portable application. In the present study, the performance and pressure drop of catalyst coated and catalyst packed in micro-channel reactor with commercial catalyst in both cases were compared for steam reforming of methanol. The different sols (alumina, zirconia and mixed sol of alumina and zirconia) as a binder for the catalyst have been used to compare the stability and performance. Though the initial performance exhibited by using different sols was same at 290 °C, the performance decay of 20% was observed after 6 days of continuous operation in the case of using zirconia as binder. This may be due to relatively unstable catalyst coating and nonuniform dispersion of catalyst particles on the ZrO2 binder. Among the different sols, mixed sol of alumina and zirconia comparatively showed better stability and performance. Though the pressure drop in packed catalyst in micro-channel reactor was higher compared to that in catalyst coated micro-channel reactor, the almost complete conversion of methanol in SRM reaction was achieved with packed catalyst in micro-channel reactor at lower temperature.

Process intensification by micro-channel reactor for steam reforming of methanol