Optimization of Hydrogen Production Through Methane Steam Reforming in a Membrane Reactor

Mellyssa S. de Souza; Otávio F. Ivo; Argimiro R. Secchi

doi:https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V64P214

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Volume 64 | Number 2 | Year 2018 | Article Id. IJETT-V64P214 | DOI : https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V64P214

Optimization of Hydrogen Production Through Methane Steam Reforming in a Membrane Reactor

Mellyssa S. de Souza, Otávio F. Ivo, Argimiro R. Secchi

Citation :

Mellyssa S. de Souza, Otávio F. Ivo, Argimiro R. Secchi, "Optimization of Hydrogen Production Through Methane Steam Reforming in a Membrane Reactor," International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT), vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 75-80, 2018. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V64P214

Abstract

Hydrogen is used as fuel and as raw material in important processes. Steam methane reforming is the main route for hydrogen production with the process being globally endothermic and reversible, which requires operating at high temperatures to achieve satisfactory conversions. Membrane reactors are an interesting alternative since it leads to higher conversions at lower temperatures. In order to consolidate this technology, it is necessary to find the optimal operational conditions. Temperature (T), reaction pressure (P), permeate pressure (PP), steam to methane molar ratio in the feedstock (m) and methane feed flow rate (FCH40) were chosen as decision variables. The objective function was defined as the sum of methane conversion and hydrogen recovery. The Flexible Polyhedra method was used as optimization algorithm. Considering the determined optimal conditions, a methane conversion of 99.94% and a recovery of hydrogen of 98.87% were achieved.

Keywords

methane steam reforming, membrane reactor, optimization, hydrogen production, Nelder-Mead algorithm.

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