Modeling of Steam Propane Reforming in a Catalytic Membrane Reactor at High Temperatures

A model of steam propane reforming in a catalytic reactor was developed. The main reactor elements were two cylindrical chambers separated by a thin partition (highly hydrogen-selective palladium foil or impermeable steel plate). The upper chamber was evacuated, and the lower chamber was filled with a nickel catalyst and was maintained under constant pressure. The feed (C3H8 and H2O) was uniformly introduced through the perimeter of the lower chamber; in this case, the problem reduced to the determination of the average fluxes of C3H8, CH4, H2O, CO, CO2, and H2 via the solution of six first-order, nonlinear, ordinary differential equations. The study was carried out in a temperature range of 673 K < T < 823 K at a steam : propane inlet flux ratio of 5 and a feed flow rate of 1800–3600 1/h. A comparison between the calculated and experimental data confirmed the assumption that there are two steam reforming ranges (a short initial range and the main range). It was proven that the optimal conditions of steam propane reforming are a feed flow rate of ∼2000 1/h and a temperature of ∼800 K.