Externally Heated Stack-like Reactor

4 Methanol Steam Reforming 4 [MSR 4] Externally Heated Stack-like Reactor 

Kinetic expressions were determined for both a tubular fixed-bed reactor containing 30 mg catalyst particles and the micro reactor coated with the catalyst particles. The coating was performed by filling the channel system with a suspension of the catalyst in 2-propanol and subsequent removal of the organic solvent by heat treatment at 500 °C [24]. 

The experiments were carried out at a pressure of 1.5 bar and a flow rate of 80-270 Ncm3 min-1. At 200 °C no deactivation of the catalyst was observed. As the rate of reaction was found to show a linear dependence on the residence time, differential conditions were assumed for the measurements. Because of the determined high activation energy of 5 6 kj mol-1, mass transport limitations were excluded. A power law kinetic expression of the following form was determined for methanol steam reforming  

Similar values were found for the reaction order in both systems at a lower rate of reaction for the micro channels as shown in Table 2.3 [24], 

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As MSRs are studied in the field of microprocess engineering, together with other devices, in which physical processes occur, some combinations can be found such as stack-like reactors with or integrating external heating and cross-fiow/counterflow heat exchangers/reactors, the last one being used mainly for evaporation purposes. 

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