Water-gas shift reaction in a plate-type Pd-membrane reactor over a nickel metal catalyst

A plate-type catalytic membrane reactor (PCMR) was prepared for the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction. The nickel metal catalyst with a disk-shape was placed on a disk-type membrane without a metal cage or mesh to hold the catalyst in the reactor. The WGS reaction in a PCMR was experimentally investigated using a simulated feed from coal gasification as a function of feed pressure (up to 1.1 MPa) and GHSV (up to 20 000 h− 1). The stronger adsorption of CO on the Pd membrane seems to be responsible for the greater reduction in the hydrogen permeating flux, which was a more power inhibitor than steam. When S/C = 2.0 and GHSV = 5000 h− 1, 81% of the hydrogen had permeated through the membrane at del-P = 1.0 MPa and 400 °C and the CO conversion increased by 26%, when compared with no hydrogen separation (del-P = 0.0 MPa). The CO conversion decreased by 8.1% when GHSV was increased from 5000 h− 1 to 17 000 h− 1.

► A plate-type catalytic membrane reactor for a single-stage water-gas shift reaction ► Disk-shape nickel metal catalyst and Pd-based membrane ► CO is a more potent inhibitor than steam on a hydrogen permeating flux. ► CO conversion increased by 26%, compared with no hydrogen separation.