Steam Reforming of Methanol and Reactor Optimization for Additional Hydrogen Production: Process Simulation

Abstract

Considering the escalating significance of hydrogen production as a high-energy-density fuel, coupled with the challenges associated with its transportation and storage, the necessity to generate hydrogen at the point of consumption has become more pronounced than ever before. Thus, this research endeavors to comprehensively investigate various hydrogen production processes and elucidate the merits and drawbacks of each technique. Additionally, the catalysts employed in these processes were examined, ultimately leading to the selection of methanol steam reforming using a Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst within a fixed bed reactor for hydrogen production. Subsequently, the process underwent initial simulation utilizing Aspen Plus software, enabling a close-to-reality assessment of the simulation's challenges. Following the validation of the simulation results, a comparative analysis was conducted between a reactor operating at a specified temperature (T=220℃) and a co-current reactor. Each reactor possessed distinct advantages and disadvantages. Through this comparison, it was observed that, in order to achieve the same conversion, the length of the co-current reactor could be reduced by 5.7 cm compared to the specified temperature reactor. Consequently, the construction cost was reduced; however, this modification resulted in an increased production of carbon monoxide, necessitating further investigation.

Keywords

• copper-based catalyst
• fixed bed reactor
• hydrogen production
• methanol reforming
• optimization of reactor size