Modelling and experimental studies of a water-gas shift catalytic membrane reactor

A 2-dimensional, axis-symmetric CFD model of a tubular CMR has been developed using a commercial software package FLUENT for the purposes of guiding the design and operation of a HTWGS-CMR for the processing of coal-derived syngas. Development of the model has been approached in a stepwise manner through the successive incorporation of sub-models for the CMR processes. For each step, performance of model was checked and validated against measurements using a prototype CMR with same set-up applied in simulation. The optimum catalyst loading, which yield the maximum CO conversion within targeted operating reactor temperatures (350-450 degrees C), was found to be 11.6 kg/(COmol/s) for the inlet syngas temperature of 350 degrees C with a reactor having a 1 '' shell diameter. The CMR model was validated experimentally with a simulated coal-derived syngas (64.5% of CO, 33.0% of H-2 and 2.5% of CO2 with a 3:1 steam to carbon (S:C) ratio) at a total dry gas flow of 4 L-N/min and a feed pressure of 15 bar(g). These tests were performed using a prototype reactor which incorporated with a tubular (0.1 mm thick, 150 cm(2), 3/8 '' OD) Pd/Ag23 wt% membrane. The CMR model was simulated using a wider range of operating parameters (namely permeation rate, inlet temperature, catalyst loading, pressure at permeate side and S:C ratios) to examine its sensitivity to these variables. Outcomes of these parametric analyses have enhanced our understanding of CMR operation in order to optimise its performance. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.