SIMULATION OF METHANE REFORMING IN A FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR

Abstract

Numerical simulation of oxidative reforming of methane over Rh/A1203 catalyst for efficient hydrogen production has been carried out in a circulating fast fluidized bed reactor. A one dimensional steady state reactor model has been developed. MATLAB R20 I 3a software was utilized to solve the modelling equations. Oxidative reforming of methane is integrated with steam reforming and carbon dioxide reforming of methane. Model results have been validated with data available in literature. It has been found that the integrated oxidative reforming of methane is more economical path compared to the conventional steam reforming of methane. A comparison between co-feed configuration and oxygen distribution configuration is analyzed. The effect of parameters such as oxygen to methane molar ratio. feed temperature and steam to methane molar ratio is investigated. CFFBR performance with co-feed configuration is greatly affected by the development of hot spot temperatures along the reactor length. The distribution of oxygen along the length of the reactor eliminates the development of hot spot temperatures. The product gases mixture mainly consists of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and unreacted gases. The results show that the combination of oxygen distribution with part of oxygen directly fed into the reactor is efficient configuration for hydrogen production. The results show that model can satisfactorily represent the reforming of methane in CFFBR.