Hydrogen Production: Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) (ABP)

This Application Best Practice (ABP) provides detailed information on the steam methane reforming (SMR) application and its corresponding modeling and simulation process using Ansys Fluent® fluid simulation software, including the importance of SMR application in the energy sector, the important details and corresponding numerical simulation details. This ABP provides best practice in using the reacting channel model, which allows affordable simulations of reactors with simple flow but complex chemistry occurring in long thin channels, thermally coupled to geometrically complex flows with simple, or no chemistry.

Learning Outcomes:

Following completion of this Application Best Practice (ABP), you will be able to:

• Explain the chemistry and industrial relevance of steam methane reforming, including key reactions, reactor types, and the role of SMR in the hydrogen production industry
• Apply best practices for geometry preparation, meshing workflows (including watertight meshing and proper boundary definition), and model setup for both simple and semi-industrial SMR reactors
• Select and set up appropriate turbulence, heat transfer, radiation, and species transport models as well as reaction mechanisms for SMR and combustion reactions
• Employ the Reaction Channel Model to efficiently simulate reactors with simple flow but complex chemistry, understanding its setup, benefits, and limitations
• Analyze simulation outputs (e.g., species mass fractions, temperature profiles, hydrogen yield), perform mesh independence checks, and validate results against experimental and benchmark data
• Evaluate the computational efficiency gained from the reaction channel model, and utilize post-processing and optimization tools (such as optiSLang) to enhance process design and operational parameters

Prerequisites:

• Previous experience using and applying the Ansys Fluent CFD solver is recommended.
• Previous training is recommended in the following areas:
  • Basic Fluent solver functionality
  • Fluent Watertight Meshing
  • Conjugate Heat Transfer
  • Turbulence
  • Species transport and combustion
  • Post-processing

Please note: These training materials were developed and tested in the 2022R1 release.

Application Best Practices (ABPs) outline engineering design goals for specific applications and provide guidance for how to achieve those goals using Ansys simulation software. It is important to note that a Geometry File or other Input Files are not always available. ABPs, as opposed to the official training-material workshops/tutorials, are not meant to be a step-by-step instruction document. ABPs are a link between product-based training courses and application specific tutorials, educating on the "how" and "why" of the best modeling approach, highlighting best practices and workflows for a particular application.