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dc.contributor.advisorSullivan, Neal P.
dc.contributor.authorMurphy, Danielle M.
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T04:52:32Z
dc.date.accessioned2022-02-09T08:48:41Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T04:52:32Z
dc.date.available2022-02-09T08:48:41Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.identifierT 7209
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11124/78726
dc.description2013 Spring.
dc.descriptionIncludes illustrations (some color).
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (pages 140-150).
dc.description.abstractMicrochannel heat exchanger and reactor technology has recently gained interest as an innovative way to improve heat-exchanger efficiency, reduce size and weight, and utilize thermal management capabilities to improve conversion, yield, selectivity, and catalyst life. Among many other possible applications, this technology is suitable for advanced recuperated engines, oxy-fired combustion processes for oxygen separation, gas-cooled nuclear reactors, recuperative heat exchanger and reformer units for solid oxide fuel cell systems, and chemical processing. This work presents the design, fabrication, and performance of novel ceramic microchannel reactors in heat-exchanger and fuel-reforming applications. Although most microchannel devices are made of metal materials, ceramics offer an alternative which enables significantly higher operating temperatures, improved tolerance to harsh chemical environments, and improved adherence of ceramic-based catalyst washcoats. Significant cost savings in materials and manufacturing methods for high-volume manufacturing can also be achieved. High-temperature performance of the ceramic microchannel reactor is measured through non-reactive heat-exchanger experiments within a dedicated test stand. Heat-exchanger effectiveness of up to 88% is experimentally established. After coating catalyst material over half of the reactor layers, use of the ceramic microchannel reactor in methane fuel-processing applications is demonstrated. As a fuel reformer, the ceramic microchannel reactor achieves process intensification by combining heat-exchanger and catalytic-reactor functions to produce syngas. Gas hourly space velocities (GHSV) up to 50,000 hr-1 with methane conversion higher than 85% are achieved. A complete computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, as well as a geometrically simplified hybrid CFD/chemical kinetics model, is used in conjunction with experimentation to examine heat transfer, fluid flow, and chemical kinetics within the ceramic microchannel structure. While significant syngas formation is demonstrated, further work is necessary to optimize the catalyst, expand experimental process windows, and explore alternative uses for ceramic microreactors.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumdoctoral dissertations
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library
dc.relation.ispartof2013 - Mines Theses & Dissertations
dc.rightsCopyright of the original work is retained by the author.
dc.subjectceramic
dc.subjectreformer
dc.subjectmicrochannel
dc.subjectheat exchanger
dc.subjectCFD
dc.subject.lcshMicroreactors
dc.subject.lcshHeat exchangers
dc.subject.lcshCeramics
dc.subject.lcshCatalysts
dc.subject.lcshCatalytic reforming
dc.titleDevelopment of a novel ceramic microchannel reactor for methane steam reforming
dc.typeText
dc.contributor.committeememberWickham, David
dc.contributor.committeememberKee, R. J.
dc.contributor.committeememberRichards, Ryan
dc.contributor.committeememberBogin, Gregory E.
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.disciplineMechanical Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorColorado School of Mines


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