Comparative modeling study of catalytic membrane reactor configurations for syngas production by CO2 reforming of methane

Modeling based analysis of catalytic CO2 reforming of methane in fixed bed (FBR) and membrane reactors (MR) has been carried out for the production of syngas. Four Ni-based catalysts have been studied separately in FBR to identify suitable catalyst on the basis of carbon formation tendency at the reactor operating conditions of temperature (973-1073 K), and CO2/CH4 molar feed ratio (CMR = 1, 2, and 3). The simulation has resulted in Ni/La2O3 as most suitable catalyst at 1073 K and CMR = 1. Addition of 10% H2 to the feed further reduces the carbon formation tendencies. Two fixed bed reactor configurations [FBR1 (Ni/La2O3), and FBR2 (Rh/γ-Al2O3)], and two membrane reactor configurations [MR1 (FBR1 + dense membrane), and MR2 (FBR2 + porous membrane)] have been evaluated by simulation to identify the favorable configuration at operating conditions for syngas production. The yields of H2 and CO are found maximum as 94.5% and 98% respectively at CMR = 1 in reactor MR1. Also the H2/CO ratio has been found close to unity at 1073 K and CMR = 1 in reactor MR1 with no significant effect of sweep gas. Hence, the membrane reactor MR1 is the best reformer configuration to produce syngas by dry reforming of methane.