Stable hydrogen production by methane steam reforming in a two-zone fluidized-bed reactor: Effect of the operating variables

The oxidative steam reforming of methane in a two-zone fluidized-bed reactor (TZFBR) was investigated over a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst. The effects of the main operating variables (temperature, steam/oxygen ratio, steam/methane ratio and relative velocity with respect to the minimum fluidization velocity) have been studied. A comparison has been made with results given in the literature in terms of hydrogen yield. Despite working with very low steam/methane ratios, high values of hydrogen yield at both high methane conversion and at steady state were obtained in the TZFBR. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.