Session: 03-11 Energy Transition

Paper Number: 126877

126877 - Wave Reformer Channel Shape Design for Enhanced Hydrogen Pyrolysis 

A wave reformer utilizes shock wave heating resulting from pressure exchange between a driver and a driven (reactant gas) to initiate a thermal decomposition reaction. Although widely applicable to many reactions, this paper will focus on the thermal pyrolysis of methane to produce hydrogen and solid (black) carbon. It uses wave rotor technology that has been applied to other applications but developed specifically here for high temperature pyrolysis by New Wave Hydrogen Inc. (NWH). This research uses a quasi-two-dimensional (Q2D) model implemented in Ansys Fluent to study the influence of new channel design features on the unsteady flow field and performance characteristics of the wave reformer.

The primary objective of the work is to investigate the impact of variable area channel design on peak temperature (a proxy for thermal pyrolysis), which has received limited attention in existing literature. The model numerically solves the three-dimensional, compressible, and unsteady Navier-Stokes equations, employing the k−ω - SST turbulence model for closure. Additionally, it utilizes a cell-centered approach, with fictitious cells beyond the domain boundaries, coupled to multispecies transport equations and a one-step finite-rate chemistry model. The channel's curvature is controlled with Bezier curves' control points to ensure a smooth area transition along the channel.

The Q2D results reveal that as the fluid traverses the converging channel, its temperature increases due to the rising internal energy, resulting in an enhanced hydrogen yield. However, the reduction in channel cross-section results in a decrease in the mass flow rate, subsequently lowering the mass flow ratio of produced hydrogen. Despite this, there is a significant benefit to implementing converging channel designs in wave reformers for enhanced shock heating.

Presenting Author: Ghislain Madiot Simon Fraser University

Presenting Author Biography: Ghislain Madiot is a Aerodynamics Engineer that has worked for over 10 years at Safran Aircraft Engines. More recently he successfully completed his Masters of Applied Science at the School of Sustainable Energy Engineering at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada where he studied a novel method of clean hydrogen production.

Authors:

Ghislain Madiot Simon Fraser University
Stefan Tüchler New Wave Hydrogen Inc
Pejman Akbari California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Colin D. Copeland Simon Fraser University