Development of Microreactors for Hydrogen Production Based on Microchannel Technology

The combined problems of on-board hydrogen storage and the lack of hydrogen infrastructure impede the development of fuel cell-powered vehicles using hydrogen. Microreactors based on microchannel technology that generate hydrogen from liquid hydrocarbons are the best way to solve these problems. The principle of microreactors for hydrogen production is presented, and then the advanced microreactors based on microchannel technology are introduced in terms of four key techniques: microchannel structures, distribution of flow channels, sheet lamination structure, micromachining, providing the correlative design method. The prospect of microreactors for hydrogen production is discussed in the end.