Numerical Analysis of the Performance of Membrane Reactors for Nh3 Decomposition

Abstract

An analysis of the performance of a membrane reactor for the production of pure hydrogen through ammonia decomposition is presented here. The system is numerically studied under a wide range of operating conditions to identify those most favorable for the production of pure hydrogen. The underlying idea is that, in the case of ammonia decomposition, a membrane reactor allows to operate at low temperature not only because the selective removal of hydrogen shifts the equilibrium of the reactor towards the products, but also because the reaction rate is enhanced by the removal of hydrogen, which at low temperatures inhibits the kinetics of ammonia decomposition.