Optimization of an ion transport membrane reactor system for syngas production

Ion transport membrane (ITM) reactor has been regarded as a promising novel technology for syngas production. To commercialize this technology, overall system designs and operating conditions should be optimized. In this study, a mathematical analysis of the ITM reactor system has been performed using Aspen Plus® to optimize its operations. Two-dimensional ITM reactor model developed in our previous study has been integrated into a system model to capture the system performance. The effects of air flow rates and gas inlet temperatures, which are the dominant factors determining both the ITM reactor performance and the system power consumption, have been investigated. To optimize the ITM reactor system, overall system power consumptions have been analyzed under various operating conditions. An optimal operation map has been presented that minimizes the power consumption and maximizes the …