PARAMETRICAL STUDY OF STEAM METHANE REFORMING IN A MEMBRANE REACTOR Print

PARAMETRICAL STUDY OF STEAM METHANE REFORMING IN A MEMBRANE REACTOR

 

 

Elena Carcadea*, Mihai Varlam, Ioan Stefanescu, Adriana Marinoiu, Vasile Tanislav, Catalin Capris

 

 

 National Institute for Research and Development for Cryogenic and Isotopic  Technologies - ICIT Rm. Valcea, Uzinei Street no.4; P.O. Box 7 Râureni, 240050, Rm.Vâlcea, Romania

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

The aim of this paper is the parametric investigation of methane steam reforming to synthesis gas in a membrane reactor. Steam methane reforming in a membrane reactor is investigated in this paper using ANSYS Fluent software. The influence of some parameters on mass and heat transfer is analyzed. Thus, the influence of pressure, inlet temperature from the reforming area and velocity of the sweep gas was considered.

Two domains were taken into account in our simulation (reforming and permeating areas) while the membrane was considered one dimensional. The simulations carried out intended to establish the maximum value of temperature in the sweep area of the porous membrane reactor, close to the inner permeation tubes, because a 450C maximum value of temperature is required for long life and maximum performance of these tubes. Also, an optimum velocity for the sweep gas and an optimum pressure in the reforming area was searched by simulations carried out.

 

KEYWORDS: methane reforming, CFD simulation, parametric study



*Corresponding author: Elena Carcadea, phone/fax: 0250 732744/0250 732746, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it