The modelling of a multi-tubular packed-bed reactor for ammonia cracking and SOFC waste heat utilization

This paper presents a model for a multi-tubular packed-bed reactor designed to enhance ammonia cracking by utilizing waste heat from solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) exhaust gas. Ammonia, considered a promising carrier for green hydrogen due to its established production and supply chain, must undergo cracking before it can be used for energy applications. The endothermic nature of ammonia cracking requires efficient heat transfer to the reaction zone, especially when the heat source is waste heat rather than dedicated combustion heating. The proposed model integrates a reactor where multiple catalyst-filled tubes carry out the ammonia cracking, while the outer shell facilitates heat transfer from SOFC exhaust gas. Key design parameters, such as tube radius and spacing, are optimized to improve volumetric power density and achieve high conversion rates. This model aims to address the challenge of maximizing energy efficiency and improving the round-trip energy density of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier.