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In this study, the continuous sorption-enhanced steam reforming of glycerol to high-purity hydrogen production by a simultaneous flow concept of catalyst and sorbent for reaction and regeneration using two moving-bed reactors has been evaluated experimentally. A Ni-based catalyst (NiO/NiAl2O4) and a lime sorbent (CaO) were used for glycerol steam reforming with and without in-situ CO2 removal at 500 °C and 600 °C. The simultaneous regeneration of catalyst and sorbent was carried out with the mixture gas of N2 and steam at 900 °C. The product gases were measured by a GC gas analyzer. It is obvious that the amounts of CO2, CO and CH4 were reduced in the sorption-enhanced steam reforming of glycerol, and the H2 concentration is greatly increased in the pre-CO2 breakthrough periods within 10 min both 500 °C and 600 °C. The extended time of operation for high-purity hydrogen production and CO2 capture was obtained by the continuous sorption-enhanced steam reforming of glycerol. High-purity H2 products of 93.9% and 96.1% were produced at 500 °C and 600 °C and very small amounts of CO2, CH4 and CO were formed. The decay in activity during the continuous reaction-regeneration of catalyst and sorbent was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hydrogen production from steam reforming of glycerol in a fluidized bed reactor has been simulated using a CFD method by an additional transport equation with a kinetic term. The Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid approach was adopted to simulate hydrodynamics of fluidization, and chemical reactions were modelled by laminar finite-rate model. The bed expansion and pressure drop were predicted for different inlet gas velocities. The results showed that the flow system exhibited a more heterogeneous structure, and the core-annulus structure of gas–solid flow led to back-mixing and internal circulation behaviour, and thus gave a poor velocity distribution. This suggests the bed should be agitated to maintain satisfactory fluidizing conditions. Glycerol conversion and H2 production were decreased with increasing inlet gas velocity. The increase in the value of steam to carbon molar ratio increases the conversion of glycerol and H2 selectivity. H2 concentrations in the bed were uneven and increased downstream and high concentrations of H2 production were also found on walls. The model demonstrated a relationship between hydrodynamics and hydrogen production, implying that the residence time and steam to carbon molar ratio are important parameters. The CFD simulation will provide helpful data to design and operate a bench scale catalytic fluidized bed reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]