Methane steam reforming in a Pd-Ru membrane reactor

Methane steam reforming has been carried out in a Pd-Ru membrane reactor at 500-600 degrees C. The membrane reactor consisted of a Pd-6%Ru tube of 100 mu m wall thickness and commercial catalysts packed outside of the membran e. The methane conversion was significantly enhanced in the membrane reacto r in which reaction equilibrium was shifted by selective permeation of hydr ogen through the membrane. The methane conversion at 500 degrees C was impr oved as high as 80% in the membrane reactor, while equilibrium conversion i n a fixed-bed reactor was 57%. The effect of gas flow rate and temperature on the performance of the membrane reactor was investigated and the results were compared with the simulated result from the model. The model predicti on is in good agreement with the experimental result. In order to apply the membrane in practice, however, the thickness of the membrane has to be red uced. Therefore, the effect of membrane thickness on performance of the mem brane reactor was estimated using the model.