A review on mathematical modeling of packed bed membrane reactors for hydrogen production from methane

Summary The most widely used process for hydrogen production is steam methane reforming. It can be carried out using a membrane reactor in which simultaneous hydrogen production and purification occur. Mathematical modeling of these reactors plays a key role in the selection of the design and operating parameters that yield high performance for the reactor. This review study discusses, synthesizes, and compares different mathematical modeling studies on the packed bed membrane reactors for hydrogen production from methane found in the literature. Different approaches used in these modeling studies for the hydrogen permeation steps, reaction kinetic expressions, phases involved (pseudo‐homogeneous and heterogeneous), and spatial dimensions (one, two, and three dimensional) are given. Discusses recent papers on the modeling of the membrane reactors for H2 production Compares modeling approaches based on the phases involved and spatial dimensions Gives modeling equations of each step of the hydrogen permeation process Summarizes different kinetic expressions for steam‐methane reforming reactions