Dynamic model of an auto-thermal gasoline fuel processor

A dynamic model of an auto-thermal gasoline fuel processor for hydrogen production is presented. The model is based on a one-dimensional, single channel monolith model and accounts for mass and heat transfer between the gas phase, the solid phase, and the reactor wall. The reaction network is based on a semi-detailed surface reaction network which is automatically simplified into Langmuir–Hinshelwood global reaction rates for model solving. All uncertain model parameters are estimated from dynamic measurements of concentrations and temperatures. The measurements are obtained from a 4 kWth fuel processor test bench. The model is able to predict both the gas streams at the reactor exit as well as at intermediate sample locations throughout the catalyst bed quantitatively well and captures all relevant dynamic phenomena. The high level of agreement of the model with measurements over a wide range of operating conditions is demonstrated using multiple dynamic validation measurements.