Abstract
A comprehensive 3D coupled mathematical model is developed to study the microwave assisted thermocatalytic decomposition of methane with activated carbon as the catalyst. A simple reaction kinetic model for methane conversion (accounting for catalyst deactivation) is developed from previously published experimental data and coupled with the governing equations for the microwaves, heat transfer, mass transfer and fluid flow physics. Temperature distribution and concentration profiles of CH4 & H2 in the catalyst bed are presented. The temperature profiles at different input power values predict a non-uniform temperature distribution with hot-spots near the top and bottom of the catalyst. The concentration profiles predict a linear variation of CH4 and H2 concentration along the length of the reactor and show a good agreement with experimental conversion values. The influence of volumetric hourly space velocity on methane conversion is also investigated.
Highlights
Global concern over the increasing level of greenhouse gas emissions and the associated climate change has driven the search for renewable and more environment friendly sources of fuels [1]
As there are no natural sources of hydrogen in elemental form, different methods are employed to extract H2 from various compounds
Almost 50% of the commercial hydrogen is being produced from natural gas using the steam methane reforming (SMR) process [3]
Summary
Global concern over the increasing level of greenhouse gas emissions and the associated climate change has driven the search for renewable and more environment friendly sources of fuels [1]. Dominguez et al [21], combined microwave heating as a heat source and activated carbon as the catalyst for the thermocatalytic decomposition of methane in a fixed bed quartz-tube flow reactor.
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