Mathematical Modeling of Methanol Steam Reforming Process

Hydrogen is the key to achieving sustainable and clean energy in the world's future, and research in the field of optimal hydrogen production has been growing in the past years. This research discusses the mathematical modeling of hydrogen production in membrane reactors of the methanol reforming process. Modeling is developed using the principles of conservation of mass, energy, and momentum; In cases where the temperature is constant, only the conservation of mass will be used, and in non-isothermal cases, both mass and energy equations will be used. This modeling is finally upgraded from one-dimensional to two-dimensional in the length and radial of the reactor. In each mathematical model, molecular and thermal diffusion relations are used as auxiliary equations to complete the modeling. In the final step, the effect of different variables such as temperature, pressure, and the reactor and membrane's physical conditions is analyzed to determine the optimal operating conditions for the developed mathematical models.