Coupling Performance Analysis of Plate-Fin Heat Exchanger Filled with Catalyst for Hydrogen Liquefaction

In an effort to promote the design and application of the plate-fin heat exchanger filled with catalyst (PFHEFC) in industrial production, a coupled mathematical model of continuous hydrogen ortho-para catalytic conversion (CHOPCC) is established to analyze its coupling performance. The results show that the j of the catalyst filled channel (CFC) of the PFHEFC is higher 3.3 times than that of the traditional fin channel (TFC), and the thermal enhancement factor (TEF) of the CFC reaches 37.7% of that of the TFC. The outlet para-hydrogen proportion y^out _p-H2 is approximately positively correlated with mass space velocity v_m, and v_m ≤ 0.66 kg/(m³·s) is the condition for meeting the demand of the PFHEFC at 42– 70 K. Therefore, it shows that the PFHEFC can realize the CHOPCC under the condition of ensuring a certain thermal-hydraulic performance. Meanwhile, for the PFHEFC, the j and TEF of the CFC are respectively 8–10 times and 68% –93% of the TFC under different fin structures. And a large cross-section of the CFC has better coupling performance. Above all, the research results demonstrate the feasibility of the PFHEFC and can facilitate its design.