Simulations of the effect of hydrodynamic conditions and properties of membranes on the catalytic performance of a fluidized‐bed membrane reactor for partial oxidation of methane

Abstract

AbstractIn a fluidized‐bed membrane reactor the selectivity of separation can be controlled by influencing the hydrodynamics of the fluidized bed. In this reactor type, with the mass transport limitation between bubbles and the emulsion phase, even with the non‐selective membranes, high selectivity of separation can be achieved. This opens the possibility for applications of membrane reactors for reaction systems for which selective membranes do not exist, e.g. when Knudsen‐type membranes or form‐selective separation can not be applied. This paper is aimed at explaining the interaction between the selectivity of separation and the hydrodynamics of the fluidized bed by means of simulations that were performed for a fluidized‐bed membrane reactor for catalytic partial oxidation of methane.