Multiphysics Modeling and Sensitivity Analysis of Ethanol Steam Reforming in Porous Catalytic Media for Hydrogen Production

This work presents a case study of sensitivity analysis applied to the modeling of ethanol steam reforming (SRE) in a catalytic porous medium, with a focus on hydrogen production. Considering the high variability of parameters reported in the literature, the objective is not to propose a universal model, but rather to assess the impact of uncertainties associated with input parameters on the model outcomes. The model was developed under steady-state conditions, coupling flow in porous media, species transport, and heat transfer, with kinetics described as a function of partial pressures. The sensitivity analysis was conducted through the systematic variation of kinetic and physicochemical parameters within ranges associated with their uncertainties. The results indicate that activation energy is the parameter most sensitive to uncertainty variation, exhibiting the greatest impact on hydrogen production. The thermal properties of the medium, particularly thermal conductivity and solid density, also stand out, highlighting the role of thermo-kinetic coupling. In contrast, parameters such as porosity, water reaction order, and particle diameter exhibited low sensitivity under the analyzed conditions. As a main contribution, this work establishes a sensitivity hierarchy associated with parameter uncertainties and provides guidance for other researchers regarding the prioritization of their determination and calibration in hydrogen production models.