Conceptual Design and Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Solar–Thermal Methanol Reforming Hydrogen Production Systems for Marine Applications

This study aims to explore and propose a design-oriented methodology for solar–thermal methanol reforming (ST-MSR) hydrogen production equipment suitable for marine applications. To address key challenges such as the intermittency of solar energy, spatial and environmental constraints on board ships, operational safety, and user experience, a multidisciplinary integrated-design decision-making framework is established. First, the Kano model is employed to systematically analyze the latent needs of target users regarding ST-MSR equipment, while the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to determine the weighting of evaluation criteria. Second, the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) is applied to generate innovative conceptual design solutions. Finally, the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) is adopted to conduct a multi-dimensional comprehensive evaluation and optimization-based selection of the conceptual alternatives. The optimal design scheme is thus identified in terms of energy performance, product characteristics, user experience, economic feasibility, and environmental adaptability. The results indicate that the microchannel and phase-change thermal-storage integrated solar–thermal-tracking chemical reactor achieves the highest comprehensive evaluation score among the proposed schemes, demonstrating superior performance in terms of safety, energy efficiency, and adaptability to marine environments. This research provides a systematic industrial design methodology and practical reference for the design and product development of clean energy equipment for ships, contributing to the green and sustainable transformation of the maritime industry.