Mass Transfer Coefficient in Multi-Stage Reformer/Membrane Modules for Hydrogen Production

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Energy Systems
• Materials Science

Background:

• Hydrogen is a key energy carrier, with fossil fuel conversion and CO₂ capture being a promising generation pathway.
• Reformer and Membrane Modules (RMMs) offer advantages over conventional membrane reactors by integrating steam reforming and H₂ separation.
• Existing RMM research lacks detailed design features and mass transfer correlations for scale-up.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a physical-mathematical model for mass transfer in RMMs.
• To simulate experimental results and estimate scaling-up correlations for RMMs.
• To identify mass transfer limiting regimes based on gas flow rates.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a physical-mathematical model to simulate mass transfer.
• Investigated three distinct geometrical configurations of the RMM.
• Accounted for concentration polarization and membrane permeation effects.

Main Results:

• Successfully simulated existing experimental data for RMM performance.
• Estimated scaling-up correlations for the material exchange modules within RMMs.
• Identified the gas mass flow rate as a critical factor influencing mass transfer limitations.

Conclusions:

• The developed model provides essential tools for designing and scaling up RMMs.
• Understanding mass transfer regimes is crucial for optimizing hydrogen production efficiency.
• This work addresses a critical gap in RMM design and performance analysis.