Hydrogen production by methanol steam reforming in a miniature plate-type reactor

A novel miniature plate-type reactor was successfully fabricated, which combines methanol steam reforming and catalytic combustion reactions. It can be started-up fast and keeps self-sustained, i.e. without any external heating during the operating process. A number of the methanol steam reforming (MSR) tests were carried out in the reactor. The temperature distribution in the reforming and combustion chambers and the effects of temperature, space velocity and water/methanol ratio on the hydrogen production process were studied. The optimal methanol conversion of 94.85% can be attained at the temperature of 270°C, the space velocity of 870 h-1, and the water/methanol ratio of 1.3. The production gas consists of 74.53% H2, 1.76% CO, and 23.71% CO2. The maximum hydrogen throughput is up to 6000 mL/h, which can meet the hydrogen feed for a portable fuel cell system.