3D Simulation of bubbling fluidized bed reactors for sorption enhanced steam methane reforming processes

Hydrogen production by the Sorption Enhanced Steam Methane Reforming (SE-SMR) process was studied with a numerical two-fluid model. The process was simulated in a three dimensional bubbling fluidized bed reactor. The effects of pressure, steam-to-carbon ratio and inlet gas flow rate on the reactions are studied. High pressure and low steam-to-carbon ratio will decrease the conversion of methane. But the high pressure makes the adsorption of CO2 faster. Compared to the standard SMR process, the methane conversion and heat utility are enhanced by CO2 adsorption. The CO2 produced in the methane reforming process is adsorbed almost totally in a relative long period of time in the bubbling fluidized bed. It means that the adsorption rate of CO2 is fast enough compared with the SMR rate. In a certain range of gas flow rates, the mass transfer and reaction kinetics can reach the equilibrium, and the reaction efficiency is independent of gas flow rate. The temperature distribution is almost uniform over the whole reactor. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.