Speaker
Description
The accelerating global transition toward clean energy demands sustainable pathways for hydrogen (H 2 ) production. Thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass through pyrolysis and reforming offers a promising, carbon-neutral route, yet reactor design remains a critical bottleneck limiting yield efficiency. This study presents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) investigation into the Thermo-Catalytic Reforming (TCR) process, originally developed at Fraunhofer UMSICHT, to establish a validated simulation framework that can subsequently inform the design of an intensified novel reactor geometry optimised for H2 and syngas production. The methodology proceeds in two stages. In the first stage, the TCR reactor is reconstructed in ANSYS Fluent and simulated using a coupled multiphase model, which incorporates species transport, heterogeneous catalytic kinetics, and turbulence closure suitable for reactive flows. The simulation results are systematically validated against published experimental and computational data from Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Sensitivity analyses are performed on kinetic parameters, phase interaction models, and turbulence formulations to assess model fidelity and identify the physics best suited for representing the TCR process. In the second stage, the validated physics are applied to a novel reactor geometry developed using principles of process intensification, including enhanced heat and mass transfer, reduced residence time distribution, and improved contact between reactive phases. Parametric optimisation targets maximised H 2 and syngas selectivity. This work contributes to the growing body of evidence that physics-informed simulation, guided by process intensification theory, can accelerate the development of next-generation thermochemical reactors for clean energy applications in the African and global context.
| Apply for student award at which level: | PhD |
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| Consent on use of personal information: Abstract Submission | Yes, I ACCEPT |