Journal of Membrane Science & Technology

Increasing the performance of a methane steam reforming reaction in a membrane reactor by multi-objective optimization

International Conference on Membrane Science and Technology

September 11-12, 2017 | Paris, France

Marjan Alavi

Shiraz University, Iran

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Membra Sci Technol

Abstract:

Steam reforming of methane (SRM) is the main route of hydrogen production process. It is possible to carry out this reaction in a membrane reactor (MR). A hydrogen perm-selective membrane is able to separate the produced H2 in the reactor and increase methane conversion by shifting the equilibrium. This H2 removal may also increase the risk of catalyst deactivation due to coke formation in the system. The amount of permeation through the membrane and membrane position/configuration are some of the main parameters that can affect methane conversion, H2 recovery and coke formation. In this study, an MR is simulated by using a one dimensional model. In order to find the optimum condition for this MR, in which CH4 conversion, H2 recovery are maximized and the risk of coke formation is minimized, a multi-objective algorithm is employed to achieve the Pareto front in a three objective space. In the optimized condition methane conversion and hydrogen recovery are improved and also, the possibility of coke formation in the MR is reduced.