Effect of flow configuration on the membrane reactor behaviour operating without sweep gas

M. E. ADROVER; A. ANZOLA; S. SCHBIB; M. PEDERNERA; D.O. BORIO

Congreso; 9th International Conference on Catalysis in Membrane Reactors (ICCMR9); 2009

In order  to  increase  the permeation  trough  the membrane a sweep gas  (e.g., N2 or steam)  is employed. However, separation will be required downstream. As a consequence, the sweep gas remotion accompanied by a pressure  increment allows high permeation and no H2 purification. The aim of  the present work  is to  simulate  a multitubular membrane  reactor  for  the WGS  reaction, without  sweep  gas,  under  two  flow configurations: co- and countercurrent. The effect of the flow schemes on the reaction ignition, temperature axial profiles and CO conversion is analyzed.