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Monolithic substrate support catalyst design considerations for steam methane reforming operation

An erratum for this article can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1515/revce-2018-9001
  • Luqmanulhakim Baharudin

    Luqmanulhakim Baharudin joined the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury in May 2016 as a PhD candidate. He earned his MPhil in Advanced Chemical Engineering Practice from the University of Cambridge, UK. He has had approximately 10 years of significant international industrial experience in the petrochemical industry working for Haldor-Topsoe, Petronas, and ExxonMobil. He is currently developing a monolithic catalytic system for steam methane reforming and water gas shift reactions.

    and Matthew James Watson

    Matthew James Watson joined the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury, in 2015 as an Associate Professor, after more than 15 years of applied R&D experience at Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Pennsylvania. He earned his BE degree from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and his MSc and PhD from Lehigh University, USA. His research interest is in developing and investigating novel materials such as structured catalyst and adsorbent supports, high-temperature electrolytic reduction of metals, new applications for oxy-fuel combustion, and oxygen generation from waste heat.

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Published/Copyright: May 8, 2017
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Abstract

This paper reviews the research undertaken to study the design criteria that address the monolithic support structure requirements in steam reforming operation for the effective mass transfer of process gases to the active sites and effective conductive heat transfer through tube wall to the active catalytic areas, as well as low pressure drop operation. Design considerations include selection of substrate materials that possess good mechanical strength to withstand the severe reaction conditions and prevent catalyst crushing that would lead to carbon formation and catalyst deactivation, and excessive heating of the tube that results in hot spots which is fatal to tube lifetime. The support’s mechanical properties are listed for the purpose of providing guidelines on verifying the structure durability. The practical aspect of packaging and stacking the monolith structures in the reformer tube for ease of loading and discharge is discussed to understand its readiness in industrial application.

About the authors

Luqmanulhakim Baharudin

Luqmanulhakim Baharudin joined the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury in May 2016 as a PhD candidate. He earned his MPhil in Advanced Chemical Engineering Practice from the University of Cambridge, UK. He has had approximately 10 years of significant international industrial experience in the petrochemical industry working for Haldor-Topsoe, Petronas, and ExxonMobil. He is currently developing a monolithic catalytic system for steam methane reforming and water gas shift reactions.

Matthew James Watson

Matthew James Watson joined the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury, in 2015 as an Associate Professor, after more than 15 years of applied R&D experience at Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Pennsylvania. He earned his BE degree from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and his MSc and PhD from Lehigh University, USA. His research interest is in developing and investigating novel materials such as structured catalyst and adsorbent supports, high-temperature electrolytic reduction of metals, new applications for oxy-fuel combustion, and oxygen generation from waste heat.

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the financial support of the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

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Received: 2016-10-16
Accepted: 2017-03-10
Published Online: 2017-05-08
Published in Print: 2018-07-26

©2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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