Modeling Studies on Fixed Bed Membrane Reactor for WGSR-based Hydrogen Production:PEM Fuel Cell Applications

摘要

Fuel cell based modular power generation can be achieved by miniaturization and process intensification of equipment in the process. Fuel cells require hydrogen rich gas which can be generated through reforming and water gas shift reaction. The goal of this study is to point out the effect of the relative values of membrane perm selectivity, permeation flux and investigation of a water gas shift membrane reactor with operating temperature (high temperature). This was achieved by simulating the operation of an isothermal tube-shell reactor. The water gas shift reactor being kinetically limited occupies more volume to achieve the required CO conversion. Membrane model has been first validated by comparing the conversion measurements, in a temperature range of 350-450°C with Pd-membranes of 20um thick. The influence of reaction pressure and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV), varying from 7.0 to 11.0 bar and from 3450 to 14,000 h~(-1) respectively, was studied. In addition, various steam to carbon feed molar ratio and mixtures in different feed concentration were supplied to the MR.