Development of Membrane Reactor Coupling Hydrogen and Syngas Production

• Published in: Membranes (Basel) 2023-06, Vol.13 (7), p.626
• Main Authors: Markov, Alexey A, Merkulov, Oleg V, Suntsov, Alexey Yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Aluminum; Aluminum oxide; Carbon; Catalysts; ceramic membrane; Emissions (Pollution); Gaseous fuels; Gases; Hydrogen; Hydrogen as fuel; Hydrogen production; Load distribution; Membrane reactors; Membrane separation; Membranes; Methane; Natural gas; Oxidation; oxygen permeability; partial oxidation of methane; Permeability; Perovskites; Reactors; selectivity; Steady flow; Synthesis gas; Temperature; Water splitting
• ISSN: 2077-0375; 2077-0375
• DOI: 10.3390/membranes13070626

Simultaneous syngas and pure hydrogen production through partial oxidation of methane and water splitting, respectively, were demonstrated by using mixed ionic-electronic conductors. Tubular ceramic membranes prepared from La Sr FeO perovskite were successfully utilized in a 10 M lab scale reactor by applying a radial arrangement. The supply of methane to the middle area of the reaction zone was shown to provide a uniform distribution of the chemical load along the tubes' length. A steady flow of steam feeding the inner part of the membranes was used as oxidative media. A described configuration was found to be favorable to maintaining oxygen permeability values exceeding 1.1 mL∙cm ∙min and long-term stability of related functional characteristics. Methane's partial oxidation reaction assisted by 10%Ni@Al O catalyst proceeded with selectivity values above 90% and conversion of almost 100%. The transition from a laboratory model of a reactor operating on one tubular membrane to a ten-tube one resulted in no losses in the specific performance. The optimized supply of gaseous fuel opens up the possibility of scaling up the reaction zone and creating a promising prototype of a multitubular reaction zone with a simplified sealing procedure.