Modular reactors with electrical resistance heating for hydrocarbon cracking and other endothermic reactions

We propose and demonstrate by calculations novel modular reactor configurations with electrical resistance heating for endothermic reactions such as cracking and steam reforming of hydrocarbons. The basic unit of each module consists of a set of wires, tubes, plates, monolith, or gauze/wire meshes arranged in parallel or series to satisfy the current–voltage constraints. The smaller dimensions such as spacing and diameter are selected to obtain nearly uniform heating temperature within the reaction zone.