Application of flexible micro temperature sensor in oxidative steam reforming by a methanol micro reformer.
Advances in fuel cell applications reflect the ability of reformers to produce hydrogen. This work presents a flexible micro temperature sensor that is fabricated based on micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology and integrated into a flat micro methanol reformer to observe the conditions inside that reformer. The micro temperature sensor has higher accuracy and sensitivity than a conventionally adopted thermocouple. Despite various micro temperature sensor applications, integrated micro reformers are still relatively new. This work proposes a novel method for integrating micro methanol reformers and micro temperature sensors, subsequently increasing the methanol conversion rate and the hydrogen production rate by varying the fuel supply rate and the water/methanol ratio. Importantly, the proposed micro temperature sensor adequately controls the interior temperature during oxidative steam reforming of methanol (OSRM), with the relevant parameters optimized as well.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yuan Ze Fuel Cell Center, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan 320, Taiwan. cylee@saturn.yzu.edu.tw
Chi-Yuan
CY
Lee
Shuo-Jen
SJ
Lee
Chia-Chieh
CC
Shen
Chuin-Tih
CT
Yeh
Chi-Chung
CC
Chang
Yi-Man
YM
Lo
D004566:Electrodes; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013227:Steam; D013696:Temperature
D013227:Steam; D000432:Methanol