Steam Methane Reforming(SMR) Reaction in Monolith Reactors Using CFD Modeling

Document Type : Review Paper

Author
Gas Division, Research Institute of Petroleum Industries (RIPI), Postal Code: 1485613111, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
 In the present work, Steam Methane Reforming(SMR) reaction in monolith reactors was modeled. Experiments of SMR were carried out in a Bench-scale monolith reactor. A single-channel was considered and two axi-symmetric CFD models were developed for modeling. General kinetic models for SMR and Water–Gas-Shift (WGS) reaction rates based on Langmuir–Hinshelwood type were employed. Good agreement was achieved between bench experimental data and the model. The validated CFD model was considered as numerical laboratory .Using experimental design a sensitivity analysis was run in order to find the effect of feed temperature, GHSV, pressure and inlet H2O/CH4 molar ratio on the reactor performance. It was concluded that obtained results from CFD analysis gives precise guidelines for further studies on optimization of monolithic reactor performance. 

Keywords

Subjects


  1. Cao, C.S., Y. Wang, and R.T. Rozmiarek, Heterogeneous reactor model for steam reforming of methane in a microchannel reactor with microstructured catalysts. Catal. Today, 2005. 110(1-2): p. 92-97.
  2. Tonkovich  AY, Perry S, Wang Y, Qiu D, LaPlante T, Rogers WA .Microchanel process technology for compact Methane steam reforming.  Chem Eng Sci 2004; 59 (22–23): 4819–4824.
  3. Hickman D, Schmidt L D. Production of syngas by direct catalytic oxidation of Methane, Science 1993; 259: 343–346.
  4. Boger T. Monolithic catalysts for the chemical Industry.  Ind Eng Chem Res 2004; 43: 4602-4611.
  5. Benson R S and Ponton J W.Process Miniaturisation-A Route to Total Environmental Acceptability. Chem Eng Res Des 1993; 71: 160–168.
  6. Tonkovich AY, Yang B, Perry ST, Fitzgerald SP, Wang Y. From seconds to milliseconds to microseconds through tailored microchannel reactor design of a steam Methanereformer. Catal Today 2007; 120:21-29.
  7. Bradley RJ, Nathan LC, Diana NT, Robert AD, Jamelyn DH ,Wang Y. Engineered SMR catalysts based on hydrothermally stable, porous, ceramic supports for microchannel reactors.
    Catal Today 2007; 120:54-62.
  8. Avci AK, Trimm DL, Karakaya M. Microreactor catalytic combustion for chemicals processing. Catal Today 2010; 155: 66-74.
  9. BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2011, www.bp.com/statisticalreview.