INVESTIGADORES
BUCALA Veronica
artículos
Título:
Influence of the Heat-Flux Profiles on the Operation of Primary Steam Reformers
Autor/es:
PIÑA, JULIANA; SCHBIB, SUSANA; BUCALA, VERONICA; BORIO, DANIEL
Revista:
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMICAL RESEARCH
Editorial:
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
Referencias:
Lugar: Washington; Año: 2001 vol. 40 p. 5215 - 5220
ISSN:
0888-5885
Resumen:
The influence of the heat-flux axial profiles on the main variables of an industrial primary steam
reformer (i.e., outlet methane conversion, process gas temperature, tube-skin temperature, and
equilibrium approach) has been studied. By means of adjustments of the heat flux along the
tube length, two different optimization problems have been proposed: (a) maximum methane
conversion for a given maximum allowable tube-skin temperature and (b) minimum tube-skin
temperature for a fixed methane conversion, both for constant heat duty. The defined optimization
problems have been solved using a one-dimensional heterogeneous model. This mathematical
formulation accounts for the strong mass-transfer resistances by an appropriate solution of the
material balances within the catalyst. An equivalent annular model has been used to represent
the complex geometry of the catalyst particle. The simulation and optimization results indicate
that the heat flux strongly influences the reactor performance. Indeed, adequate selections of
the heat-flux distribution along the reactor length would increase the production rate and/or
extend the tube lifetime significantly.