Stable hydrogen production by methane steam reforming in a two-zone fluidized-bed reactor: Effect of the operating variables

•Methane oxidative steam reforming in a two-zone fluidized-bed reactor was studied.•Despite working with very low steam/methane ratios a stable state is achieved.•High H2 yields at both high CH4 conversion and at steady state were obtained.•Higher global H2 yields than those found in the literature for Ni-based catalysts.

The oxidative steam reforming of methane in a two-zone fluidized-bed reactor (TZFBR) was investigated over a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst. The effects of the main operating variables (temperature, steam/oxygen ratio, steam/methane ratio and relative velocity with respect to the minimum fluidization velocity) have been studied. A comparison has been made with results given in the literature in terms of hydrogen yield. Despite working with very low steam/methane ratios, high values of hydrogen yield at both high methane conversion and at steady state were obtained in the TZFBR.