Mathematical modelling of simultaneous hydrogenation of benzene and ethane dehydrogenation in a membrane reactor

Membrane reactors for hydrogen production are interesting devices that allow us to perform dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reactions in one system simultaneously. In this work, a two-dimensional mathematical model has been developed for the investigation of mass and heat transfer in a membrane reactor where both ethane dehydrogenation reaction and benzene hydrogenation are carried out at the same time. The effect of inlet temperatures and porosity in both sides of the membrane reactor on the performance of the system has been investigated. The results showed that the benzene conversion is 0.14 %, 0.18 %, and 0.07 % at tube side inlet temperatures of 700 K, 800 K, and 900 K. It means that there is an optimum inlet temperature in the tube side of the membrane reactor. The increase in porosity from 0.3 % to 0.8 % in the shell side results in a decrease in the conversion of both benzene and ethane in the system. Also, the outlet temperatures were decreased in both sides with the increase of shell side porosity.