Radiative Heating Shunt for Steam Reforming Reactor

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Solution Overview

Problem

In steam reforming reactors, heat transfer via radiation is inefficient due to low convective transport coefficients, leading to a low temperature zone away from the heater, which results in elevated methane slip and decreased efficiency as methane conversion requires higher temperatures further along the reactor due to decreasing partial pressure.

Innovation Solution

A radiative heating shunt is introduced, comprising a porous partition that extends from the reactor wall into the reaction chamber, creating a sub-volume free of packing material to allow unobstructed radiative heat transfer deeper into the reactor, thereby increasing temperature and driving the reaction towards completion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If heat is transferred via radiation from the outer wall, then energy is supplied to the reactor, but a low temperature zone forms away from the wall due to inefficient heat transfer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidtemperature distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The reactor interior is segmented into a heated zone near the outer wall and a separate low temperature zone in the center. The radiative heating shunt creates a dedicated pathway that segments the heat transfer process, allowing direct radiation to reach the catalyst bed in the center zone, thereby eliminating the temperature gradient problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The radiative heating shunt acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates heat transfer from the outer wall to the center catalyst bed. It provides a dedicated pathway for radiative heat to traverse the reactor interior, mediating the energy transfer process that would otherwise be inefficient due to the low convective transport coefficients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the reaction occurs farther from the inlet, then methane conversion can proceed, but higher temperature is required due to decreasing methane partial pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemethane conversionVSAvoidtemperature requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The radiative heating shunt performs preliminary heating of the catalyst bed in the center zone before the reactants arrive. By pre-heating the catalyst bed, the system compensates for the decreasing methane partial pressure along the reactor length, maintaining sufficient temperature for reaction to occur farther from the inlet.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heat transfer problem is solved by adding a spatial dimension - the radiative heating shunt extends radially from the outer wall toward the center, creating a three-dimensional heat transfer pathway. This dimensional approach allows heat to reach the center catalyst bed directly, providing the additional temperature boost needed for reaction at lower methane partial pressures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Power

If a heater is coupled to the outer wall, then heating is provided, but low convective transport coefficients limit heat delivery to the interior

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating capabilityVSAvoidheat transfer loss

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the convective heat transfer mechanism with a radiative heat transfer mechanism. By using the radiative heating shunt, the system substitutes the inefficient convective transport with direct radiation, eliminating the limitation imposed by low convective transport coefficients and reducing energy loss in the heat transfer process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The radiative heating shunt enhances heat transfer to the low temperature zone, reducing methane slip and increasing the efficiency of methane conversion by maintaining higher temperatures throughout the reactor, especially near the inner wall where methane partial pressure is lower.

Implementation Method 1

heat is transferred mainly via radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiative heat transfer: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a porous partition enclosing a sub-volume of the reaction chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Data Source

PatentUS8038968B2Radiative heat transfer via shunt in a steam reforming reactor

Publication Date: 2011.10.18 HYAXIOM INC

AI summary

Embodiments are disclosed that relate to increasing a temperature in a low temperature zone in a steam reforming reactor via a radiative heating shunt. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a steam reforming reactor comprising a reaction chamber having an interior surface, a packing material located within the reaction chamber, and a radiative heating shunt extending from the interior surface into the reaction chamber. The radiative heating shunt comprises a porous partition enclosing a sub-volume of the reaction chamber bounded by the porous partition and a portion of the interior surface, the sub-volume being at least partly free of packing material such that radiative heat has a path from the interior surface to a distal portion of the porous partition that is unobstructed by packing material.