A fluidised-bed membrane reactor for the catalytic partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas

Abstract

A fluidised-bed membrane reactor was proposed as reaction engineering means for performing the catalytic partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas (syngas) in a safe and stable manner, and to achieve high syngas yields at elevated pressures and low temperatures. In order to analyse the potential of this reactor design a reaction engineering model was developed. Simulation studies performed with this model for palladium and ceramic membranes indicated that in the fluidised-bed membrane reactor higher syngas yields can be achieved compared to the fluidised bed. Furthermore, under certain conditions the integrated product separation allowed to overcome the thermodynamic constraints. Syngas yield in the fluidised-bed membrane reactor strongly depended on the permeation rate and the selectivity of the separation. For the ceramic membrane the interaction between membrane and bed hydrodynamics was found to be of primary importance; in order to achieve high syngas yields the separation unit should contact mainly with the emulsion phase.