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Methane steam reforming: II. Diffusional limitations and reactor simulation
Author(s) -
Xu Jianguo,
Froment Gilbert F.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690350110
Subject(s) - tortuosity , steam reforming , uncorrelated , methane , orthogonal collocation , catalysis , pellet , chemistry , thermodynamics , collocation method , materials science , mathematics , porosity , statistics , mathematical analysis , organic chemistry , physics , composite material , ordinary differential equation , hydrogen production , differential equation
Given the intrinsic kinetics, the tortuosity factor of a Ni/MgAl 2 O 4 catalyst was determined under reaction conditions by minimizing the sum of squares of residuals of the experimental and the simulated conversions. The parallel cross‐linked pore model with uncorrelated pore size distribution and orientation was used in the calculation of the effective diffusivities. A modified collocation method was used to obtain the partial pressure profiles of the reacting components in the catalyst pellet. The simulation of the experimental reactor during the optimization of the tortuosity factor also yielded the effectiveness factors of the reactions. The results of the simulation of an industrial steam reformer are also discussed.