Design of a biogas steam reforming reactor: A modelling and experimental approach

•A mathematical model for a biogas steam reforming reactor has been developed in order to describe its performance.•Parametric analysis was performed, varying operating conditions, to study the effects on reaction performance.•The model was validated by comparing the calculated data with the experimental data.•Simulation data showed that the agreement between the experimental and theoretical results was remarkably well.•The model can be used as tool to advance in the reactors design for fuel reforming technology.

This paper covers the research activities performed at the CNR Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies “Nicola Giordano”, aimed at developing and testing a biogas steam reforming reactor. A mathematical model has been developed in order to describe, the performance of the above-cited steam reforming reactor (packed bed). To study the effects on reaction performance, a parametric analysis was performed varying operating conditions such as inlet temperature and reagent molar ratio. The model was validated by comparing the calculated data with the experimental data obtained with a proprietary Ni/CeO2 based catalyst in packet bed micro-scale reactor at different T = 700–900 °C, S/C = 1–5 and GHSV = 30,000 h−1, showing a good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results.