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Microwave heating of endothermic catalytic reactions: Reforming of methanol
Author(s) -
Perry W. Lee,
Datye Abhaya K.,
Prinja Anil K.,
Brown Lee F.,
Katz Joel D.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690480416
Subject(s) - endothermic process , heat transfer , methanol , microwave , steam reforming , pellet , catalysis , chemistry , exothermic reaction , packed bed , chemical engineering , thermodynamics , nuclear engineering , materials science , chromatography , organic chemistry , composite material , hydrogen production , physics , adsorption , engineering , quantum mechanics
Abstract In an endothermic reaction, such as methanol‐steam reforming, the reaction rate can be limited by the ability to supply heat to the reactor. Heat transfer from the reactor wall normally supplies the required energy in such processes. Drawbacks, such as operating temperature constraints and practical heat‐transfer restrictions, limit this practice. In such situations, microwave heating could provide an effective and efficient method for transferring heat to the catalyst. To explore this possibility, the methanol‐steam reaction performed by conventional heating and microwave heating was studied. Mathematical modeling was performed for 1‐D heat transfer in a single catalyst pellet and for 2‐D heat transfer in a tubular packed‐bed reactor. The single catalyst pellet model indicated that productivity could increase significantly using microwave heating. The 2‐D model showed that microwave heating could minimize radial heat‐transfer effects. Conducting the methanol‐steam reaction in a microwave‐heated reactor experimentally verified the improved productivity.