Mathematical modelling of heat transfer in a catalytic reformer

In this work we analyse heat transfer in a system of channelsconnected by thin conducting walls. The channels are packedwith catalytic pellets that promote exothermic catalytic combustionreactions and endothermic reforming reactions in adjacent channels.A model is developed in which the thermal conductivity and thethickness of the interconnecting wall can be used as controlparameters characterizing the heat exchange between the neighbouringchannels. The model is to be used as a mathematical tool toanalyse design alternatives and develop accurate numerical techniques.Our objective is to study how the heat is transferred acrossthe conducting walls and how this influences the temperaturedistribution in the channels. We use an asymptotic techniqueto do this. The structure of the walls is then examined in detail,focusing on the case when we have layered walls.