Numerical modeling of bubble dynamics in liquid metal exposed to electromagnetic fields for hydrogen production

Abstract

In our modern society hydrogen is an important alternative energy source for current and future applications in fuel cells as well as coolants or hydrogenation of coal. To achieve an environmentally compatible production of hydrogen, another method of thermal decomposition, is discovered. In this process methane is injected with an orifice at the bottom of an bubble column reactor that is filled with liquid tin. While rising up in the reactor, the methane bubbles do a chemical decomposition reaction into hydrogen and carbon, which is depending on the tin temperature. In this article a numerical model for the methane bubble flow inside the tin melt is described. For that case residence times and flow structures are discovered depending on different heating systems of the melt - heating coil and electromagnetic field. In the following studies different inlets types as well as installations like packed beds are discovered to view their influence on higher residence times and efficiency of the reaction.