Numerical simulation of supercritical catalytic steam reforming of aviation kerosene coupling with coking and heat transfer in mini-channel

A novel supercritical catalytic steam reforming reaction model coupling with coking and heat transfer is proposed and validated for aviation kerosene RP-3. The convective heat transfer and reaction characteristics of RP-3 with catalytic steam reforming are then investigated in mini-channel using this model. The effect of key operation parameters including water addition percentage and inlet flow velocity on coking and heat transfer is analyzed in detail. The results demonstrate that water addition can increase chemical heat absorption of RP-3 and enhance heat transfer. However, with increasing inlet flow velocity, there is a trade-off between convective heat transfer and chemical heat absorption. It is difficult to simultaneously achieve the optimal heat transfer performance and maximum chemical heat absorption. The temperature along the flow direction in the mini-channel reactor exhibits stratification phenomenon. In addition, increasing water addition and inlet flow velocity is beneficial to suppress coke formation. The present study provides better insight into the coupling relationship between catalytic steam reforming reaction of aviation kerosene and the coking and heat transfer processes.