TY - GEN
T1 - The optimization of parallel channel patterns design on micro methanol steam reformer
AU - Jang, Jiin-Yuh
AU - Huang, Yu Xian
AU - Cheng, Chin-Hsiang
PY - 2010/12/1
Y1 - 2010/12/1
N2 - This study was aimed at the performance of micro methanol steam reformer for channel widths optimization by simplified conjugate gradient method (SCGM) with minimum objective function of velocity standard deviation. A threedimensional numerical model and optimal algorithm named simplified conjugate gradient method (SCGM) were built for predicting the dominating factors in channel widths. In the optimization searching process, the simulation model only includes the continuity and the momentum equations for decreasing the computational time. When the optimum channel width of different inlet flow rate and its distributions are obtained by SCGM with minimum objective function, the species and energy equations are applied to evaluate the performance of steam reformer. Distributions of velocity were predicted, and the methanol conversion ratio was also evaluated. In addition, the mole fraction of CO contained in the reformed gas, which is essential to prevent the catalyst layers of fuel cells from poisoning, is also investigated. Furthermore, the present simulation model was also compared with existing experiment data, and the close agreement was found. Results show that the methanol conversion ratio can be improved from 54.2% to 62.6% for the particular case at 0.6 cc/min flow rate if the channel widths are optimized. On the other hand, the mole fraction of carbon monoxide is increased from 2.85 % (original) to 5.21 % (optimal) at Q&=0.6 cc min-1.
AB - This study was aimed at the performance of micro methanol steam reformer for channel widths optimization by simplified conjugate gradient method (SCGM) with minimum objective function of velocity standard deviation. A threedimensional numerical model and optimal algorithm named simplified conjugate gradient method (SCGM) were built for predicting the dominating factors in channel widths. In the optimization searching process, the simulation model only includes the continuity and the momentum equations for decreasing the computational time. When the optimum channel width of different inlet flow rate and its distributions are obtained by SCGM with minimum objective function, the species and energy equations are applied to evaluate the performance of steam reformer. Distributions of velocity were predicted, and the methanol conversion ratio was also evaluated. In addition, the mole fraction of CO contained in the reformed gas, which is essential to prevent the catalyst layers of fuel cells from poisoning, is also investigated. Furthermore, the present simulation model was also compared with existing experiment data, and the close agreement was found. Results show that the methanol conversion ratio can be improved from 54.2% to 62.6% for the particular case at 0.6 cc/min flow rate if the channel widths are optimized. On the other hand, the mole fraction of carbon monoxide is increased from 2.85 % (original) to 5.21 % (optimal) at Q&=0.6 cc min-1.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84862937189&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84862937189&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1115/FEDSM-ICNMM2010-30111
DO - 10.1115/FEDSM-ICNMM2010-30111
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84862937189
SN - 9780791854501
T3 - ASME 2010 8th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels Collocated with 3rd Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Summer Meeting, ICNMM2010
SP - 1065
EP - 1074
BT - ASME 2010 8th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels Collocated with 3rd Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Summer Meeting, ICNMM2010
T2 - ASME 2010 8th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels, ICNMM2010 Collocated with 3rd Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Summer Meeting
Y2 - 1 August 2010 through 5 August 2010
ER -