Experimental study on application of heat transfer enhancement method using porous material with high porosity

Takeda, Tetsuaki; Ichimiya, Koichi*; Yamauchi, Daiki*

The objectives of this study are to clarify performances of a heat transfer enhancement method using porous material with high porosity and to discuss applicability of this method for a gas heating type steam reformer. A heat transfer experiment has been performed using a simulated steam reformer apparatus to obtain characteristics of heat transfer and pressure drop. From the results obtained in this experiment, this method showed a good performance regarding heat transfer. It was also found that an enhancement of heat transfer using porous material with high porosity is further improved under the high temperature conditions as compared with the other methods. There is the possibility of the adoption of this method to the steam reformer of the hydrogen production system connected to a high temperature gas-cooled reactor.