An Experimental Performance Study of a Catalytic Membrane Reactor for Ethanol Steam Reforming over a Metal Honeycomb Catalyst

Abstract

The present study deals with the combination of ethanol steam reforming over a monolithic catalyst and hydrogen separation by membrane in a lab-scale catalytic membrane reactor (CMR). The catalyst was comprised of honeycomb thin-walled Fechralloy substrate loaded with Ni + Ru/Pr0.35Ce0.35Zr0.35O2 active component. The asymmetric supported membrane consisted of a thin Ni-Cu alloy–Nd tungstate nanocomposite dense permselective layer deposited on a hierarchically structured asymmetric support. It has been shown that the monolithic catalyst-assisted CMR is capable of increasing the driving potential for hydrogen permeation through the same membrane as compared with that of the packed bed catalyst by increasing the retentate hydrogen concentration. Important operating parameters responsible for the low carbon deposition rate as well as the amount of hydrogen produced from 1 mol of ethanol, such as the temperature range of 700–900 °C, the water/ethanol molar ratio of 4 in the feed, have been determined. Regarding the choice of the reagent concentration (ethanol and steam in Ar), its magnitude may directly interfere with the effectiveness of the reaction-separation process in the CMR.

Design of Mixed Ionic-Electronic Materials for Permselective Membranes and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Based on Their Oxygen and Hydrogen Mobility

“…In the case of the asymmetric supported hydrogen separation membrane, more complex description is required since mass and heat transfer phenomena take place in the gas phase in the layers of the porous support. Gas-phase mass transport certainly affects the membrane performance or even can determine its characteristics [54], [99], [335], [336], [337]. However, gas-phase phenomena are out of scope of this review.…”

Design of Mixed Ionic-Electronic Materials for Permselective Membranes and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Based on Their Oxygen and Hydrogen Mobility

“…In the case of the asymmetric supported hydrogen separation membrane, more complex description is required since mass and heat transfer phenomena take place in the gas phase in the layers of the porous support. Gas-phase mass transport certainly affects the membrane performance or even can determine its characteristics [ 55 , 99 , 104 , 105 , 106 ]. However, gas-phase phenomena are out of the scope of this review.…”

Structural and transport properties of Nd tungstates and their composites with Ni0.5Cu0.5O obtained by mechanical activation

“…The oxygen diffusivity of composites based on Nd tungstates is rather low; however, it is enough for practical applications in hydrogen separation membranes and reaching high hydrogen permeation fluxes. 58…”