Modeling of the methane reforming reaction in hydrogen selective membrane reactors

A one-dimensional mathematical model was developed to simulate the performa nce of three reactor systems: a fixed-bed reactor, a partially selective me mbrane reactor, and a totally selective membrane reactor. The reaction stud ied was the dry reforming of methane with carbon dioxide over a 1 wt.% Rh/A l2O3 catalyst at atmospheric pressure. Experimental results were obtained w ith a semipermeable Vycor glass membrane and a selective silica membrane (N anosil). The model provided good agreement between experimental and theoret ical results for all three reactor configurations. Calculations also indica ted that axial temperature gradients and pressure drop across the bed were negligible. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.