Steam reforming of simulated pre-reformed naphtha in a PdAu membrane reactor

article
Process intensification in a membrane reactor is an efficient and compact way to produce hydrogen. A methane-rich gas mixture that simulated the composition of pre-reformed naphtha (PRN; with a steam-to-carbon ratio of 2.7) was reformed at temperatures of 55 degrees Celsius - 625 degrees Celsius and pressures up to 40 barg. The reactor contained commercial steam reforming catalyst and a 14.8 cm long, 2,6 um thick Pd-1.8Au (wt %) membrane on a porous alumina support. Methane conversions approaching 90% were obtained in the membrane reactor at a gas-hourly space velocity of 676 h-1compared to <30% conversion at the same conditions in conventional reactor mode (CM) without withdrawing hydrogen through the membrane. The results were compared to steam methane reforming (SMR) in the membrane reactor at similar conditions. The nitrogen leak through the membrane increased slowly during the testing, because of both pinhole formation and some leakage through the end seals.
TNO Identifier
956593
ISSN
03603199
Source
International journal of hydrogen energy
Publisher
Elsevier ; Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC
Collation
14 p.
Place of publication
Amsterdam
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