Optimization of hydrogen production by filtration combustion of natural gas by water addition

•Porous medium composed of alumina spheres.•Effect of adding steam during filtration combustion of natural gas–air mixtures.•Temperature, velocity and chemical products of the combustion waves.•Optimization of hydrogen production.•Syngas yield in filtration combustion.

The effect of adding steam during filtration combustion of natural gas–air mixtures was studied with the aim to evaluate the optimization of hydrogen production. Temperature, velocity, chemical products of combustion waves, and conversion from fuel to H2 and CO were evaluated in the range of equivalence ratio (φ) from stoichiometric (φ = 1.0) to φ = 3.0 and steam content in the mixture from 0% to 39%, at filtration velocities from 12 to 25 cm/s. Numerical simulation was carried out using GRI-MECH 3.0. Results suggest that H2 and CO concentrations, dominant for rich and ultrarich combustion, are products from partial oxidation and steam natural gas reforming processes. Experimental and numerical results show that hydrogen yield increase with an increase of steam content in the natural gas–air mixtures.