A FLUIDIZED-BED MEMBRANE REACTOR FOR THE CATALYTIC PARTIAL OXIDATION OF METHANE TO SYNTHESIS GAS

A fluidised-bed membrane reactor was proposed as reaction engineering means for performing the catalytic partial oxidation of methane to syn thesis gas (syngas) in a safe and stable manner, and to achieve high s yngas yields at elevated pressures and low temperatures. In order to a nalyse the potential of this reader design a reaction engineering mode l was developed. Simulation studies performed with this model for pall adium and ceramic membranes indicated that in the fluidised-bed membra ne reactor higher syngas yields can be achieved compared to the fluidi sed bed. Furthermore, under certain conditions the integrated product separation allowed to overcome the thermodynamic constraints. Syngas y ield in the fluidised-bed membrane reactor strongly depended on the pe rmeation rate and the selectivity of the separation. For the ceramic m embrane the interaction between membrane and bed hydrodynamics was fou nd to be of primary importance; in order to achieve high syngas yields the separation unit should contact mainly with the emulsion phase.