Methane steam reforming (MSR) is the most widely used technology for hydrogen production in industry now

where the shape of catalyst particles and the reactor operating conditions greatly influence the reactor performance and the product composition. Firstly

the present study investigated the effect of catalyst shape (sphere

cylinder and ring) on the MSR using a diffusion-reaction model on the particle scale. The effectiveness factors of shaped catalysts followed the sequence: cylinder < sphere < ring. Next

a one-dimensional mathematical model was developed by taking into account the mass

heat and momentum transfer on the reactor scale together with the diffusion-reaction equations on the catalyst scale

and used to describe an industrial MSR reactor. The effects of inlet temperature and pressure on the profiles of temperature and pressure inside the reactor

effectiveness factor

conversion of methane as well as concentration of various species were studied. Finally

the optimal inlet temperature and pressure for the industrial reactor were determined

being 773 K and 3 MPa

respectively.