Volume 15: Low Carbon Cities and Urban Energy Systems: Part IV

2D-NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF H2 PERMEATION THROUGH PD- MEMBRANE Mostafa El-Shafie, Shinji Kambara

Abstract

In this study, two-dimensional CFD simulation model is developed for investigating the hydrogen separation process across the Pd-membrane type. The influences of H2 feeding flow rate and membrane thickness on the hydrogen permeation process were investigated. Also, two Pd-membrane thicknesses of 15μm and 20μm were investigated to understand the hydrogen embrittlement and diffusion through membrane. The numerical model parameters was adjusted at a reactor temperature of 150 :C and feed pressure of 100 kPa. The velocity, concentration, and diffusion mass transfer flux distribution were numerically achieved by the model. The simulation results showed that the hydrogen velocity distribution increased with the feeding gas flow rate. Furthermore, the diffusion flux was enhanced with the permeation time and the feeding flow rate increased. It can be concluded that the hydrogen concentration and diffusion mass transfer flux through thick membranes was low compared with lower membrane thickness. It can be expected that the CFD simulation model will aid in the membrane separation design, selection and development.

Keywords Numerical simulation, Palladium membrane (Pd), Hydrogen separation, Hydrogen flux.