Derivation of an enhanced Sherwood number accounting for reaction rate in membrane reactors. Steam reforming of methane as case study

Abstract Membrane reactors for the production of pure hydrogen are complex systems whose performance is determined by the interplay between transport by convection and dispersion within the packed bed, hydrogen permeation across the membrane, and the reaction kinetics. Much effort has been devoted to the development of simplified models that combine an adequate description of the system, while maintaining a low computational cost. In this context the present work has the aim of showing the derivation of an enhanced Sherwood number, accounting for changes in composition that occur along the reactor as a consequence of both reaction and permeation. We consider the case of an infinitely fast reaction, in which the composition may be determined on the basis of equilibrium conditions.