Evaluation of Bi-reforming Performance of Bi-disperse Catalyst in a Packed Bed Reactor

Bi-reforming hydrogen production has its potential in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In this work, methane bi-reforming process in a packed bed reactor using bi-disperse catalyst particles is numerically investigated via a particle-resolved modeling. The impacts of macropore fraction, porosity and macropore size on temperature and reaction rate distribution in the bed are evaluated. The results demonstrate that there exists a peak of the maximum temperature difference in the bed with the catalyst macropore fraction. Increasing the macropore fraction of the catalyst can weaken the non-uniformity of coke formation in the bed. The increase in the macropore size of the catalyst particle can promote the hydrogen production, especially when the macropore size of particle is smaller.