Abstract
Membrane reactors, combining production and separation of pure hydrogen in one vessel, outperform conventional fuel processors for small-scale hydrogen production. Among different membrane reactor concepts, the fluidized bed membrane reactor shows advantages in terms of optimal gas-catalyst contact, heat management and reduced bed-to-membrane mass transfer limitations; the drawbacks are the limits of the fluidization regimes which set minimum and maximum feed flowrates. In this work, a comprehensive model of a fluidized bed membrane reactor is developed. The reactor produces hydrogen (around 3 Nm3/h) for the 5 kWel-class PEMFC-based m-CHP systems using natural gas or bio-ethanol as feedstocks. Two different permeate options have been analyzed, namely vacuum and sweep gas configurations, together with detailed fluid-dynamics at the feed side. For the vacuum case the hydrogen output simulated with an ideal approach, i.e. without bubble-emulsion phase distinction, kinetic and mass transfer limitations, is overestimated by 10% with respect to the full detailed model. In the sweep gas configuration the detailed models haves the hydrogen produced by the ideal model. The gas diffusion through the thick porous support of the membranes is the most limiting phenomena, and the reactor size and operation conditions must be selected carefully considering this to reach the desired output.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 136-144 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Chemical Engineering and Processing : Process Intensification |
| Volume | 127 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 May 2018 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Autothermal reforming
- Fluidized bed membrane reactor
- Hydrogen production
- Sweep gas
- Vacuum
Cite this
}
A comprehensive model of a fluidized bed membrane reactor for small-scale hydrogen production. / Foresti, S.; Di Marcoberardino, G.; Manzolini, G.; De Nooijer, N.; Gallucci, F.; van Sint Annaland, M.
In: Chemical Engineering and Processing : Process Intensification, Vol. 127, 01.05.2018, p. 136-144.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - A comprehensive model of a fluidized bed membrane reactor for small-scale hydrogen production
AU - Foresti, S.
AU - Di Marcoberardino, G.
AU - Manzolini, G.
AU - De Nooijer, N.
AU - Gallucci, F.
AU - van Sint Annaland, M.
PY - 2018/5/1
Y1 - 2018/5/1
N2 - Membrane reactors, combining production and separation of pure hydrogen in one vessel, outperform conventional fuel processors for small-scale hydrogen production. Among different membrane reactor concepts, the fluidized bed membrane reactor shows advantages in terms of optimal gas-catalyst contact, heat management and reduced bed-to-membrane mass transfer limitations; the drawbacks are the limits of the fluidization regimes which set minimum and maximum feed flowrates. In this work, a comprehensive model of a fluidized bed membrane reactor is developed. The reactor produces hydrogen (around 3 Nm3/h) for the 5 kWel-class PEMFC-based m-CHP systems using natural gas or bio-ethanol as feedstocks. Two different permeate options have been analyzed, namely vacuum and sweep gas configurations, together with detailed fluid-dynamics at the feed side. For the vacuum case the hydrogen output simulated with an ideal approach, i.e. without bubble-emulsion phase distinction, kinetic and mass transfer limitations, is overestimated by 10% with respect to the full detailed model. In the sweep gas configuration the detailed models haves the hydrogen produced by the ideal model. The gas diffusion through the thick porous support of the membranes is the most limiting phenomena, and the reactor size and operation conditions must be selected carefully considering this to reach the desired output.
AB - Membrane reactors, combining production and separation of pure hydrogen in one vessel, outperform conventional fuel processors for small-scale hydrogen production. Among different membrane reactor concepts, the fluidized bed membrane reactor shows advantages in terms of optimal gas-catalyst contact, heat management and reduced bed-to-membrane mass transfer limitations; the drawbacks are the limits of the fluidization regimes which set minimum and maximum feed flowrates. In this work, a comprehensive model of a fluidized bed membrane reactor is developed. The reactor produces hydrogen (around 3 Nm3/h) for the 5 kWel-class PEMFC-based m-CHP systems using natural gas or bio-ethanol as feedstocks. Two different permeate options have been analyzed, namely vacuum and sweep gas configurations, together with detailed fluid-dynamics at the feed side. For the vacuum case the hydrogen output simulated with an ideal approach, i.e. without bubble-emulsion phase distinction, kinetic and mass transfer limitations, is overestimated by 10% with respect to the full detailed model. In the sweep gas configuration the detailed models haves the hydrogen produced by the ideal model. The gas diffusion through the thick porous support of the membranes is the most limiting phenomena, and the reactor size and operation conditions must be selected carefully considering this to reach the desired output.
KW - Autothermal reforming
KW - Fluidized bed membrane reactor
KW - Hydrogen production
KW - Sweep gas
KW - Vacuum
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044602139&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cep.2018.01.018
DO - 10.1016/j.cep.2018.01.018
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85044602139
VL - 127
SP - 136
EP - 144
JO - Chemical Engineering and Processing : Process Intensification
JF - Chemical Engineering and Processing : Process Intensification
SN - 0255-2701
ER -