Methanation of carbon dioxide by hydrogen reduction using the Sabatier process in microchannel reactors
This paper describes the development of a microchannel-based Sabatier reactor for applications such as propellant production on Mars or space habitat air revitalization. Microchannel designs offer advantages for a compact reactor with excellent thermal control. This paper discusses the development of a Ru-TiO2 based catalyst using powdered form and its application and testing in a microchannel reactor. The resultant catalyst and microchannel reactor demonstrates good conversion, selectivity, and longevity in a compact device. A chemically reacting flow model is used to assist experimental interpretation and to suggest microchannel design approaches. A kinetic rate expression for the global Sabatier reaction is developed and validated using computational models to interpret packed-bed experiments with catalysts in powder form. The resulting global reaction is then incorporated into a reactive plug-flow model that considers flow within a microchannel reactor.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 901461
- Report Number(s):
- PNWD-SA-7455; CESCAC; 5109; TRN: US200714%%55
- Journal Information:
- Chemical Engineering Science, 62(4):1161-1170, Vol. 62, Issue 4; ISSN 0009-2509
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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