Mathematical modeling of an electrified methane steam reforming unit for maritime sector decarbonization via MCFC

To address the global climate crisis, international initiatives such as the Conferences of Parties (COP) have promoted reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Among the sectors with the greatest impact on achieving carbon neutrality, the maritime sector faces increasing regulatory pressure to reach decarbonization. In this context, Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFCs) offer a promising solution by simultaneously generating electricity and capturing CO2 from exhaust gases. This research aims to enhance the integration of electrified Steam Methane Reforming (eSMR) with MCFC systems for sustainable maritime applications. In fact, to sustain this process, a continuous hydrogen supply is required. This study explores an innovative "shell and tube" configuration of an eSMR as a compact and energy-efficient solution. Through simulations modeling, key parameters such as gas inlet temperature, coil temperature, and reactor geometry were analyzed to optimize reactor performance. The reactor showed excellent performance in almost all cases examined, reaching equilibrium in the first half of the reactor length. Analysis of the pitch distance showed that the radial diffusion of the reactants towards the catalyst surface seems to be the limiting phenomenon. On the other hand, the performance was found to be little affected by the gas temperature, since the catalyst is in intimate contact with the heating zone, the reactants reaching the reactive zone immediately achieve the temperature of the catalyst, which promotes its kinetics.