Author(s)

Fernando Antôniode Araújo Silva, Kenia Carvalho Mendes^*, Jornandes Dias da Silva

Design Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

In this work a one-dimensional mathematical model was developed to simulate methane conversion and hydrogen yield in a fixed-bed reactor filled with catalyst particles. For the reason that reforming reactions are sorely endothermic process, the heat is supplied to the reactor through electrical heating. The reforming reactions have been investigated from a modelling view point considering the effect of different temperatures ranging from 500℃ and 977℃ on the conversion of methane and hydrogen yield. Simulation results show that the steam reforming of methane in a fixed-bed reactor can efficiently store high temperature end thermal energy. When the operating temperature is increased to 977℃, the conversion of methane is 97.48% and the hydrogen yield is 2.2408. As a conclusion, the maximum thermochemical efficiency will be obtained under optimal operating temperature (977℃) and the steam/methane (3.86) ratio.

Simulation, Methane, Modelling, Steam Reforming, Fixed-Bed Reactor

Silva, F. , Mendes, K. and Silva, J. (2016) A Simulation Study of the Steam Reforming of Methaneina Fixed-Bed Reactor. Engineering, 8, 245-256. doi: 10.4236/eng.2016.84021.