Prediction the Effect of the Operating Parameters on the Hydrogen Recovery in Steam Methane Reforming Fluidized Bed Membrane Reactor

A non-isothermal, isobaric and one-dimensional mathematical model has been developed for the production of hydrogen by steam reforming of methane. Mass and energy balances for reacting and scrubbing phases provide a system of algebraic and differential equations solution of which gives concentration and temperature distributions along the reactor. After validation of the model against available experimental data, the effect of heating method of the reactor and different operating parameters including temperature and pressure of feed, ratio of steam and scrubbing gas to methane on hydrogen recovery and methane conversion has been investigated. The results of this study show that hydrogen recovery and methane conversion may be increased by increasing the feed temperature and incremental heating of the membrane reactor.