Reaction/separation coupled equilibrium modeling of steam methane reforming in fluidized bed membrane reactors

An equilibrium model of steam methane reforming coupled with in-situ membrane separation for hydrogen production was developed. The model employed Sievert’s Law for membrane separation and minimum Gibbs energy model for reactions. The reforming and separation processes were coupled by the mass balance. The model assumed a continuously stirred tank reactor for the fluidized bed hydrodynamics. The model predictions for a typical case were compared with those from the model of Ye et al. [15] which assumed a plug flow for bed hydrodynamics. The model predictions show satisfactory agreement with experimental data in the literatures. The influences of reactor pressure, temperature, steam to carbon ratio, and permeate side hydrogen partial pressure on solid carbon, NHx and NOx formation were studied using the model.