Simulation of Methane Partial Oxidation in Porous Media Reactor for Hydrogen Production

• Main Authors: Mohammad Reza Shahnazari, Hamid Reza Lari, Masoud Zia Basharhagh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iranian Institute of Research and Development in Chemical Industries (IRDCI)-ACECR 2019-02-01
• Series: Iranian Journal of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
• Subjects: partial oxidation; porous media; combustion; methane reforming; hydrogen
• Online Access: http://www.ijcce.ac.ir/article_29778_3b5dcc89af61cb7716086f90a58f334d.pdf

The enactment of strict laws on reducing pollution and controlling combustion has given rise to the necessity of considering a new approach to energy supply in the future. One such approach is the use of hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels. Hydrogen and synthesis gas are typically produced through the partial oxidation of methane in porous media. This process was theoretically simulated in this study through the modeling of a tubular reactor filled with a porous medium. With a view to achieving increased hydrogen production, the investigation focused on the following tasks: The best equivalence ratio of fuel to air was determined, and the effects of reactor diameter and length were examined to identify the most favorable reactor size for hydrogen production. The effects of fuel flow rate and porous media properties, such as grain size and porosity, on hydrogen production, were also investigated.