Preliminary Numerical Simulation of Methane Steam Reforming in Porous Catalytic Media
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70567/mc.v42.ocsid8624Keywords:
Methane steam reforming, Hydrogen production, Porous media, Numerical simulation, Catalytic reactorAbstract
This work presents preliminary results of the numerical simulation of methane steam reforming in a porous catalytic medium, considering exclusively the global reaction with methane without the gas-shift reaction. The model was implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics based on the classical formulation of Darcy’s law, the energy balance in porous media, and the transport of concentrated species. The analyses were performed in a simplified cylindrical geometry, varying the reactor length, the inlet temperature (800 and 900 K), and the methane/water feed ratio. The results indicated that longer reactors and higher temperatures enhance methane conversion and hydrogen production, whereas the feed composition revealed trade-offs between relative conversion and absolute productivity. This study aligns with established trends in the literature and serves as the preliminary stage of an ongoing master’s research project. Future work will involve extensive parametric analysis, integration of multiple reaction pathways, and a detailed investigation of process selectivity.
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