Numerical and experimental investigation of partial oxidation of methane in a porous media to achieve optimum hydrogen production

ABSTRACT

In this paper, in addition to presenting the empirical data obtained from the experimental setup designed and constructed for hydrogen production, a numerical analysis on a porous burner filled with spherical Al₂O₃ particles is conducted and the results are compared to experimental data. The proper condition for maximizing the molar fraction of hydrogen and other products, along with the most efficient methane conversion ratios, is evaluated, and the overall efficiency of the burner is calculated. It is shown that input parameters like released energy per burner volume, the set of dimensions of the reactor, and the diameter of particles have considerable impacts.

KEYWORDS:

• Partial oxidation of methane
• porous media
• super adiabatic
• conversion ratio
• equivalence ratio

Nomenclature

$A$	=	surface area [m2]
$a_v$	=	specific area [1/m]
$c_p$	=	specific heat of fluid [j/kg°C]
$d_m$	=	equivalent diameter [m]
$d_p$	=	pore diameter [m]
$H$	=	volumetric heat transfer coefficient [w/m3k]
$L$	=	length
$p$	=	pressure [pa]
$p_{th}$	=	thermal load [kw/m3]
$Pe$	=	Peclet number
$S_l$	=	laminar flame speed [m/s]
$T$	=	temperature [K]
$v$	=	velocity vector [m/s]

Greek symbols

$\phi$	=	equivalence ratio
$\rho$	=	density [kg/m3]
$\lambda$	=	thermal conductivity [w/mk]
$ϵ$	=	porosity
$\beta$	=	extinction coefficient [1/m]
$\epsilon$	=	emission coefficient
$\omega$	=	scattering albedo
$\mu$	=	viscosity [pa.s]