Development of a Trireforming Fluidized-Bed Reactor with a Hydrogen Permselective Membrane

Three models were developed for a conventional fluidized-bed reactor and a cocurrent and a countercurrent membrane fluidized-bed reactor for methane trireforming. Firstly, the effects of the operating parameters on the reactor performance were assessed. Then, a single-objective optimization was established. Finally, a membrane was added to the reactor to improve the reactor performance. The simulated results illustrate that the reaction rates are highest near the reactor entrance due to the high volume fraction of the dispersed phase and the existence of a hot zone. Moreover, the optimization process indicates that the maximum H-2 yield in the conventional fluidized-bed reactor is obtained when the inlet temperature, inlet flow rate, and H2O/CH4 ratio, are 804 degrees C, 3.6 x 10(5) L h(-1), and 2.5, respectively.