Heat Transfer Simulation in a Furnace for Steam Reformer

Three-dimensional combined radiative and convective heat transfer processes in a furnace for LPG reforming are simulated by introducing the radiosity concept into the radiative heat ray method for accurate radiative heat transfer analysis. Together with an analysis of the chemical reaction in the reactor tubes of the furnace, the heat transfer simulation gives the three-dimensional profile of the combustion gas temperature in the furnace, the tube-surface heat-flux distribution and the composition of the product gas obtained from the reforming. The results obtained are as follows. 1) Increasing the jet angle of the heating burner raises the gas temperature and the tube surface heat flux near the burner entrance 2) The flame shape is the most important factor for deciding the heat flux distribution of the tube surface because the heat transferred by flame radiation is much more than that by convection of the combustion gas.