A generic fluidized-bed reactor model (Abba et al. Chem. Eng. Sci. 2002, 57, 4797-4807; AIChE
J. 2003, in press) is adapted to evaluate the performance of a fluidized-bed membrane reactor
for steam reforming with oxygen input in a large-scale unit (16 m high and 2 m wide) described
by Adris and Grace (Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1997, 36, 4549-4556). This allows flow regimes beyond
bubbling to be modeled and facilitates the treatment of the impacts of changes in volumetric
flow due to variations in molar flow, temperature, and hydrostatic pressure. Improvement in
the reactor performance is shown when one considers these changes. Permselective membrane
tubes are shown to substantially improve the performance of the reactor. The simulation results
show that an ultrathin membrane coating could result in reversal in hydrogen diffusion with
height, especially at elevated temperatures. The influences on the reactor performance of several
other parameters such as the superficial gas velocity and steam-to-carbon ratio are also examined.
Given the right combinations of key operating parameters such as the methane-to-oxygen ratio,
feed temperature, and reactor temperature, the reactor can be operated autothermally.
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