| Summary: |
In literature, most of the research works about membrane reactors (MRs) concern the packed bed membrane reactor (PBMR), which have packed bed catalysts for the reaction and membranes for separation in one module. However, a catalytic membrane reactor (CMR), which has both catalytic activity and separation ability in one membrane, seems more attractive due to the advantages associated with a more compact configuration. Tsuru and coworkers reported an inorganic CMR for steam reforming of methane, where a separation layer and catalytic layer are attached together in one membrane (the catalyst is incorporated in the porous layer which acts as the support for the thin, selective separation layer at the same time). The utility of the polymeric catalytic membrane reactor (PCMR) for WGS reaction is under investigation in our group.
In conventional reactors, the reaction conversion is often limited by the diffusion of reactants into the pores of the catalyst or catalyst support. Such limitation may be avoided by the use of the MR. If one uses a porous membrane reactor, the catalyst is inside the pores of the membrane, and the combination of the open pore path and transmembrane pressure provides easier access of the reactants to the catalyst. This might improve the performance of the catalyst and will be very important for the low temperature WGS reaction because the low activity of the WGS catalysts in such conditions is a big technological barrier. In this project, we are attained to develop, test and compare several types of WGS membrane reactors for fuel cells application. The MRs will have an inert (PBMR) or catalytically active (CMR) membrane. The membrane materials can be inorganic or polymeric, with elaborate combination of the catalyst. We will cooperate with GKSS (Germany) for the use of the polymeric membranes, and CICECO (Portugal) for the use of inorganic membranes. |