Parametric Analysis and Energy Study of Methanol Steam Reforming for the Production of Fuel Cell Hydrogen

As strides continue to be made in the renewable and clean energy sector, expanding the set of viable options in the clean energy portfolio is crucial to the goal of replacing fossil fuels. One such option is the fuel cell, which uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water as its only byproduct. Like the energy profile, the expansion of hydrogen production options could expand the versatility of fuel cell use. A hydrocarbon that has gained traction in fuel cell hydrogen is methanol, which can be reformed into hydrogen at moderate temperatures. The advantage to methanol reforming over other production processes is the ability to maintain a liquid fuel, which may be particularly advantageous in transportation applications. In this study, mathematical models were developed in ASPEN Plus v11 ® and COMSOL 5.5 ® for the methanol steam reforming reaction. These models have been subjected to energy minimization schemes, as to reduce total required energy input while still hitting satisfactory hydrogen production standards. In ASPEN Plus v11 ®, the entire reforming process has been heat integrated, sized for a 250-350kW fuel cell, and evaluated over a range of conditions. Parametric analyses were conducted on the major process parameters (such as reactor temperature, operating pressure, etc.) to gather a greater understanding of process phenomena. In COMSOL 5.5 ®, the steam reformer was designed in 3D. This model was used to validate results from the ASPEN Plus v11 model, along with provide insight to some of the considerations that design of a suitable reactor would entail. Results of both models are compared to literature findings, and the energy results from the ASPEN Plus v11 model are analyzed in comparison to other hydrogen producing technologies.