POM coupled with carbon dioxide and steam reforming of methane in a
tubular membrane reactor: a CFD simulation study
Abstract
A CFD model for oxygen permeation and partial oxidation of methane (POM)
to syngas in a La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ tubular membrane reactor was
adopted to investigate the effects of the methane space velocity (MSV)
and the feed composition on the reactor performance. It is shown that
coupling POM reaction with carbon dioxide and steam reforming of methane
(CRM and SRM), which is realized by co-feeding CH4 with CO2, H2O or
CO2-H2O mixture into the reactor, can significantly enhance the methane
conversion and syngas production rate and alter the H2/CO ratio as
compared with feeding CH4 alone. For co-feeding CH4 with CO2, H2O or
CO2-H2O mixture, the maximum syngas production rate is 2.3, 2 and 1.8
times that of feeding CH4 alone. Also, when POM is coupled with CRM and
SRM, the temperature inside the reactor can be maintained above 973 K
which is required for proper functioning of the membrane and catalyst.