Modeling of one dimensional heterogeneous catalytic steam methane reforming over various catalysts in an adiabatic packed bed reactor/

Abstract

In this work, one dimensional (1-D) non ideal plug flow mathematical model for the heterogeneous catalytic steam methane reforming (SMR) was developed in gPROMS model builder 4.1.0®, a software developed by Process System Enterprise (PSE). The required kinetic rate data in the model for various reforming catalysts was taken from literature. The developed reactor model was simulated and the modelling results were compared independently with the results from a software and also with the literature. The effect of key variables such as temperature, pressure, steam to carbon ratio (S/C) and gas mass flux (Gs) on the performance of the SMR process was studied and the modelling results were compared with an independent and well known equilibrium based software i.e. chemical equilibrium with applications (CEA) in terms of fuel and steam conversion, H2 purity, H2 yield (wt. % of CH4) and selectivity of carbon based products. The modelling results were found in an excellent agreement with the equivalent equilibrium based results and the literature data. Later on, a comparative study was performed for various catalysts with their available kinetics to find out the most suitable catalyst and the operating conditions for the SMR process in an adiabatic fixed bed reactor.