A reactor–separator incorporating porous and dense membrane systems

✍ Scribed by Edward Gobina; Kaihu Hou; Ronald Hughes

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 350 KB
• Volume: 70
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0268-2575
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4660(199709)70:1<74::aid-jctb668>3.0.co;2-d

✦ Synopsis

This study employs mathematical models to compare and assess the relative performance of various composite membranes incorporated in a hightemperature membrane reactor. Two categories (porous and dense) and Ðve types of composite membrane systems (Pd/Ag, polyimide, silica, inert porous and Ru-dispersed porous) have been considered. Also included in the study is the special case of the Pd/Ag composite system having imperfections (pinholes and cracks). Ethylbenzene dehydrogenation over promoted iron oxide catalyst has been studied as the model reaction. Overall, the dense systems show higher performance levels at lower membrane thicknesses. However, the porous composite systems, especially those in which active metal particles have been incorporated within the micropores, can be very useful due to their signiÐcantly higher contact surface to volume ratio. The study has also conÐrmed that high hydrogen permselectivity is a key factor in determining reactor performance in terms of conversion enhancement.