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Analysis of a perovskite ceramic hollow fibre membrane reactor for the partial oxidation of methane to syngas
Author(s) -
Tan Xiaoyao,
Thursfield A.,
Metcalfe I. S.,
Li K.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
asia‐pacific journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.348
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1932-2143
pISSN - 1932-2135
DOI - 10.1002/apj.240
Subject(s) - syngas , methane , membrane reactor , partial oxidation , membrane , ceramic , ceramic membrane , chemical engineering , materials science , perovskite (structure) , chemistry , catalysis , composite material , engineering , organic chemistry , biochemistry
A mathematical model of an oxygen permeable dense ceramic hollow membrane reactor packed with a Ni/γ‐Al 2 O 3 catalyst for the partial oxidation of methane (POM) to syngas has been developed. With the present model, various operating conditions such as temperature, operating pressures and feed concentrations affecting the performance of the reactor were investigated theoretically. The applied membrane area plays the key role in the operation of the membrane reactor. Assuming that the La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3−δ (LSCF) membrane is stable under the pressures and temperatures operated, the optimum membrane area required for the POM to syngas is predicted to be varied from 98 to 16 cm 2 per cm 3 /s (STP) of methane feed when the operating temperatures are increased from 1148 to 1248 K. In order to run the membrane reactor economically and safely, the pressures in both shell and lumen sides should be kept close to one atmosphere. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.