Methanol steam reforming in a dual-bed membrane reactor for producing PEMFC grade hydrogen

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Sa, S (Author) Other; J. M. Sousa (Author) FEUP; Adélio Mendes (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Catalysis Today

Vol. 156

Pages: 254-260

ISSN: 0920-5861

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 8 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 13 Citations

COMPENDEX

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Chemical engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-1SK

DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2010.02.030

Abstract (EN): This work focus on the advantages of adding a preferential carbon monoxide oxidation (PROX) reactor to a common methanol steam reforming (SR) membrane reactor (MR). The study was performed by using a one-dimensional mathematical model, assuming axially dispersed plug flow with pressure drop in both retentate and permeate sides. The finite volumes method was used for space discretization, being the dependent variables determined using high-resolution schemes. The simulation results showed clear advantages of the SR + PROX towards the SR membrane reactor in what concerns the amount of CO in the permeate stream. More specifically, the permeate CO concentration in the SR + PROX MR was reduced to levels below 2 ppm, enabling the stream to feed a fuel cell. Additionally, high values of methanol conversion and hydrogen recovery were achieved, and the amount of CO(2) at the permeate side was able to remain below 20% for all simulations.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7