• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2018

Fuel cells are used to generate electricity with a reformer. In particular, methanol has various advantages among the fuels for reformer. Methanol steam reformer devices can efficiently supply hydrogen to PEM fuel cell. This study investigated the optimal operation conditions of a methanol steam reforming process. For this purpose, aspen HYSYS was used for the optimization of reforming process. The optimal operating condition could be designed by setting independent variables such as temperature, pressure and steam to carbon ratio (SCR). The optimal temperature and steam to carbon ratio were $250-270^{\circ}C$ and 1.3-1.5, respectively. It is advantageous to operate at a pressure of 15-20 barg, considering the performance of the hydrogen purifier. In addition, a heat exchange network was designed to supply heat constantly to reformer through the latent heat of steam.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

In this study, CFD model for a Heat Exchange Steam Reformer (HESR) used for a 10kW SOFC system is developed for the design optimization of the HESR. The model is used to explore the effect of design parameters on the performance of the HESR. In the HESR, heat is delivered from the hot gas channel to the fuel channel to supply the heat required for the fuel reforming. In the fuel channel where the fuel is reformed, thermo-fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and chemical reaction are considered to predict the performance of the reformer. The model is validated with experimental data within 2~3% error. The validated model is used for the parametric study of the HESR design. Channel length, channel diameter, and flow direction are selected as the design parameters. The effects of the HESR design parameters on the outlet temperature, outlet H2 mole fraction, and pressure drop across the reformer are presented using the model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Combustion
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2011

The heat-flow characteristics and reforming efficiency of steam reformer with combustor are numerically investigated at various operating conditions. SCR(Steam to Carbon Ratio) and GHSV(Gas Hourly Space Velocity) are adopted as important operating conditions. User-Defined-Function(UDF) was used to simultaneously calculate reforming and combustion reaction. Numerical results show that hot burned gas rise by a buoyant force and heat exchange between reforming reactors and cocurrent flow occurs in the combustion region. The results also indicate that an increase of SCR leads to decrease the mole fraction of hydrogen at the reactor outlet. As GHSV increases, conversion rate decreases.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.37-42
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• 2006

In this study, $20Nm^3/hr$ scale compact hydrogen generator which can be apply to the hydrogen station was tested for hydrogen station application. $20Nm^3/hr$ scale compact hydrogen generator was developed by upgrading concept of stacking plate reactor from former $20Nm^3/hr$ scale plate hydrogen generator. concepts for improving system efficiency and performance include such as idea of heat recovery from the exhaust, exhaust duct which is especially design for plate type reactor reinforcement of insulation, enlargement of heat exchange area of reactor, introduction of desulphurizer reactor and PROX rector in a compact design, introduction of back fire protection structure of plate burner and so on, We can learn that final prototype of scale-up $20Nm^3/hr$ scale compact hydrogen generator can be operated steadily in 100% road at which over 94% of methane conversion(S/C=3.75) was obtained. In case of making up the weak point, we expect that it is possible to apply to hydrogen station by way of showing an example.