Simulation Of Methanol Steam Reforming Process For The Production Of Hydrogen

The analysis of this study focuses on the production of H-2 based on the methanol steam reforming in an isothermal, steady state and one-dimensional model. Two reactors namely, fixed bed reactor (FBR) and H-2 selective membrane reactor (MR) are being evaluated by simulation. FBR consists of a cylindrical column packed with Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst particle bed, whereas MR is a cylindrical reactor with one reaction tube consisting of an inert nature membrane (Pd/Ag) are considered. At the complete conversion of methanol, the yield of H-2 is significantly affected by H-2 selective membrane, temperature and pressure conditions. H-2 yield of 2.72 has been achieved after the almost complete conversion of methanol at 593K temperature, the pressure of 1atm and steam/methanol ratio of 1.5 in FBR. H-2 yield, molar flow rate of CO2 has also been increased, and CO concentration has been reduced by using MR. Similarly, H-2 yield has increased to 2.76 with decreasing CO concentration using MR at the same operating conditions with an increase in pressure in the reaction zone to 2atm. Hence, the results indicate that the H-2 yield with a small amount of CO has been achieved in MR at optimum operating conditions.Abbreviations: FBR: Fixed Bed Reactor; MR: Membrane Reactor; SRM: Methanol Steam Reforming; MD: Methanol Decomposition; WGS: Water Gas Shift; PROX: Preferential Oxidation; S/M: Steam to Methanol Molar Ratio in Feed; O/C: Oxygen to Carbon Ratio; L/D: Length to Diameter Ratio; POX: Partial Oxidation; ATR: Auto-Thermal Reforming; SR: Sweep Ratio (sweep gas/methanol molar ratio)