Effect of the microchannel plate design on the capacity of methanol steam reformers

Methanol steam reforming in microreactors is considered, and the effects of the microreactor geometry (cylindrical and rectangular) and microchannel plate (MCP) design on the hydrogen capacity of the microreactor is analyzed. The MCPs were made from aluminum foil, stainless steel, and foamed nickel by laser engraving, electrochemical etching, and pressing. The amount of catalyst powder (CuO/ZnO = 40: 60 mol/mol) fixed on one MCP was 0.04–2.5 g. The specific hydrogen capacity (U w) of the cylindrical microreactor is more than 3 times as high as the U w of the rectangular microreactor and is 6 times as high as the U w of a conventional fixed-bed catalytic reactor. This gain in hydrogen capacity is due to the more efficient use of the catalyst in the microreactors. The MCP design, which determines the residence time of the reactants in the microreactor, also has a significant effect on the capacity of the microreactor.