Applied Chemistry for Engineering (공업화학)

The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (한국공업화학회)
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Multiphysics Simulations of Dry Reforming of Methane in a Fixed Bed Reactor with Different Catalyst Types

다양한 촉매 유형에 따른 고정층 반응기에서의 메탄 건식 개질 다중물리 시뮬레이션 연구

  • Soo-Won Son (School of Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Boram Gu (School of Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University)
  • 손수원 (전남대학교 화학공학부) ;
  • 구보람 (전남대학교 화학공학부)
  • Received : 2024.07.15
  • Accepted : 2024.08.05
  • Published : 2024.10.10
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Abstract

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) uses natural gas and carbon dioxide as reactants to produce hydrogen, potentially providing a solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offering an alternative carbon-free energy source. However, since DRM is highly endothermic, its application and commercialization are limited by rapid temperature decrease and resulting catalyst inactivation. Consequently, research into catalyst development and reactor design to mitigate temperature decline is essential. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is utilized to develop a multiphysics simulation platform for DRM within a fixed-bed reactor, employing two types of spherical catalysts: eggshell and uniform types. Our findings indicate that the eggshell model can maintain a higher temperature at the reactor's core than the uniform catalyst model by approximately 20 K. Furthermore, the eggshell model demonstrates superior methane conversion and hydrogen yield due to its ability to suppress excessively rapid reactions. These results underscore the benefits of eggshell catalysts in highly endothermic reactors, such as those used in DRM processes. The developed simulation platform can be used to assess various combinations of reactor and catalyst designs and further optimize their dimensions and operational protocols.

메탄 건식 개질은 천연가스와 이산화탄소를 사용해 수소를 생산하는 방식으로 온실가스 배출을 줄이고 무탄소 에너지를 제공할 수 있다. 그러나 강한 흡열 반응으로 인해 온도 급강하와 그로 인한 촉매 비활성화가 발생함에 따라 실증 및 상용화에 어려움이 있다. 본 연구에서는 고정층 반응기 내 메탄 건식 개질 공정을 시뮬레이션하기 위해 전산유체역학 기반의 다중물리 시뮬레이션 플랫폼을 개발하고, 두 종류의 구형 촉매(에그쉘형과 균일형)의 성능을 비교하였다. 에그쉘 모델은 균일 촉매 모델에 비해 반응기 중심부에서 약 20 K 높은 온도를 유지할 수 있음을 보였다. 또한, 에그쉘 모델은 급속하게 진행되는 반응을 억제하여 전반적인 메탄 전환율과 수소 수율에서 우수한 성능을 나타냈다. 개발된 시뮬레이션 플랫폼은 다양한 반응기 및 촉매 설계 조합을 평가하고 반응기 크기와 운영 프로토콜을 최적화하는데 사용될 수 있다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was financially supported by Chonnam National University (Grant number: 2021-2189).

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