Effect of catalyst activity in SMR-SERP for hydrogen production: Commercial vs. large-pore catalyst
Abstract
In this work, we have evaluated the performance of an SMR-SERP unit (steam methane reforming sorption enhanced reaction process), using two different Ni/Al2O3 catalysts: commercial "Octolyst 2001" from Degussa and a large-pore catalyst (Catalyst A). The selective CO2 sorbent was a potassium modified hydrotalcites. Several experiments were performed under different operating conditions to validate a mathematical model.
Experimental results show that the Degussa catalyst is more active and more selective to CO2 producing hydrogen with higher purity and less CO than the large-pore catalyst. Cyclic SMR-SERP experiments were also performed. The cycles comprise four different steps: reaction, depressurization, reactive regeneration and pressurization. In the cyclic experiments, conversion was 43% higher than in an SMR reactor, while H2 purity was 75%, which is 25% higher than in normal SMR operation. Results indicate that more active catalysts also promote a better reactive regeneration optimizing the use of part of the product (H2). The proposed mathematical model was validated in a wide range of operating conditions and in a cyclic experiment. The model was able to describe the SMR-SERP experiments without any fitting parameters.- Publication:
-
Chemical Engineering Science
- Pub Date:
- February 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.ces.2010.10.030
- Bibcode:
- 2011ChEnS..66..342O
- Keywords:
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- Sorption enhanced reaction process;
- Mathematical modelling;
- Steam methane reforming;
- Catalysis;
- Hydrogen;
- Carbon dioxide