Reaction kinetics for steam reforming of ethane over Ru catalyst and reactor sizing

In this study, kinetics data was obtained for steam reforming reaction of ethane over the commercial ruthenium catalyst. The variables of ethane steam reforming were the reaction temperature, partial pressure of ethane, and steam/ethane mole ratio. Parameters for the power rate law kinetic model and the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model were obtained from the kinetic data. Also, sizing of steam reforming reactor was performed by using PRO/II simulator. The reactor size calculated by the power rate law kinetic model was bigger than that of using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model for the same conversion of ethane. Reactor size calculated by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model seems to be more suitable for the reactor design because the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model was more consistent with the experimental results.