A Comprehensive Model for Catalytic Membrane Reactor

Catalytic membrane reactors are multifunctional reactors, which provide improved performance over conventional reactors. These are used mainly for conducting hydrogenation/ dehydrogenation reactions, and synthesis of oxyorganic compounds by using inorganic membranes. In this paper, comprehensive model has been developed for a tubular membrane reactor, which is applicable to Pd or Pd alloys membrane, porous inorganic membranes. The model accounts for the reaction on either side, tube or shell, isothermal and adiabatic conditions, reactive and non reactive sweep gas, multicomponent diffusion through gas films on both sides of membrane, and pressure variations. Equations governing the diffusion of gaseous components through stagnant gas film, and membranes have been identified and described. The model has been validated with the experimental results available in literature. By using the developed model catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene in a tubular membrane reactor have been simulated. Four catalysts available for this reaction have been evaluated for their performance. It is our view that the model may be used to develop general purpose software for the analysis and design of tubular catalytic membrane reactors through numerical simulation.