Methane, steam reforming case studies

The application of membrane reactors to methane reforming has also been evaluated in two recent studies. A technical and economic evaluation of the use of dense Pd-membrane in methane steam reforming has been presented by Aasberg-Petersen et aL [6.10]. They assumed a thin (2 Lim thick) Pd membrane, which exhibited perfect separation and, as a result, the pure hydrogen product was taken from the permeate side of the membrane. No sweep gas was used on the permeate side of the reactor. This necessitated compression of the low pressure hydrogen product. The authors concluded that membrane-based reforming using a dense film membrane became attractive only in the cases where electrical costs were low. 

Gallucci, R, Comite, A., Capannelli, G. and Basile, A. (2006) Steam reforming of methane in a membrane reactor An industrial case study. Industrial Engineering Chemistry Research, 45 (9), 2994-3000. 

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