A spatially-resolved temperature-dependent model for butane reforming over rhodium catalyst

In this paper an experimentally validated temperature-dependent model for hydrogen production from butane over rhodium catalyst is presented. The surface reaction equations coupled with the flow and energy equations in two distinct reformer geometries (tubular and radial) are used to model the reaction pathways. The model is able to capture the main features of the temperature and species profiles along the reactors as well as the selectivity trends for different equivalence ratios. The results show that the variable-temperature model presented here can predict the species profiles and the selectivity trends in a thermally self-sustained reactor more accurately, and is a significant improvement over the fixed-temperature model.

► An experimentally validated temperature-dependent model of hydrogen production from butane over rhodium catalyst is presented.
► The temperature and species profiles along both tubular and radial reactors can be captured accurately.
► The validated model can explain kinetics of catalytic reactions of butane reforming in a thermally self-sustained reactor.
► The model shows a significant improvement over the fixed-temperature model.