Experimental verification of kinetics and internal diffusion impact on low temperature steam reforming of a propane-methane mixture over Ni-based catalyst

• Steam reforming of a propane-methane mixture at 300–370 °C, H 2 O/C = 0.51 was studied. • Kinetic scheme included steam reforming and hydrogenolysis of propane. • Increase of catalyst fraction size from 0.75 to 4 mm decreases C 3 H 8 conversion. • Catalyst effectiveness factor was based on Wilke formula and Thiele modulus approach. • Experiment and model are in agreement at pore tortuosity 1.53 and permeability 0.26. Experiments were made on three fractions (0.5–1, 2–2.5 and 3–5 mm) of a Ni/Cr 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 catalyst in order to verify the kinetics and influence of internal diffusion transport on the apparent reaction rate of low-temperature steam reforming of a propane-methane mixture. Feed gas composition was: C 3 H 8 = 22.6%, CH 4 = 77.4%, H 2 O/C = 0.51, GHSV = 11600 h −1 , temperature 300–370 °C. To analyze the experimental data, a plug-flow reactor model with fixed temperature profiles was used; the profiles were obtained by interpolating the measurements of a moving thermocouple placed along the axis of the catalyst bed. The global kinetic scheme included the parallel reactions of propane steam reforming and propane hydrogenolysis. The catalyst effectiveness factor was calculated with the effective diffusion coefficient based on the Wilke formula, Thiele modulus and experimental pore size distribution. Experimental data for all catalyst fractions are described well by the proposed model at a porous catalyst tortuosity factor 1.53 and permeability coefficient 0.26.