A Film Boiling Reactor for Chemical Processing

This paper presents an experimental demonstration of a chemical reactor design based on film boiling, which we term a Film Boiling Reactor (FIBOR). The FIBOR consists of a heated surface coated with a catalyst and immersed in a pool of reactant liquid. Film boiling is established in the liquid and chemical reaction occurs at the surface by reactant gases which evaporate at the liquid/vapor interface and diffuse to the heated surface. In the present study we use a horizontal tube (Inconel 600) immersed in methanol as the means to create the FIBOR. The tube is coated with a platinum catalyst. We show the performance of the reactor concept to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Total flow rates of product gases of approximately 6.5 L/min for a tube surface temperature of around 800°C were measured (product yields depend on catalyst structure). The product gases were measured by gas chromatography which shows a molar ratio of two moles hydrogen to one carbon monoxide as anticipated from the methanol conversion reaction.