Steam Conversion of Ethane and Methane–Ethane Mixtures in a Membrane Reactor with a Foil Made of a Pd–Ru Alloy

The regularities of steam conversion of ethane and methane–ethane mixtures containing 5, 10, and 15% ethane in a reactor with a membrane in the form of a Pd–6% Ru foil with a thickness of 30 μm and a NIAP-03-01 nickel catalyst are investigated. The reaction is studied under the following conditions: 773 and 823 K, feed space velocities of 1800 and 3600 h⁻¹, and steam/feed ratios of 3 and 5. Steam conversion of ethane was studied in a temperature range of 773–853 K. Comparative experiments in a conventional reactor show that, in the membrane reactor, the conversion of the feedstock by the reaction of steam conversion with the formation of H₂ and CO₂ increases and its hydrocracking decreases. Evacuation of the permeate leads to an increase in the yield of H₂ and CO₂. When decreasing the steam/feed ratio from 5 down to 3, hydrocracking of the feedstock and rate of formation of carbon deposits increase. The optimum conditions for steam conversion of ethane and methane–ethane mixtures are T = 773–853 and 773 K, respectively, 1800 h^–1 and steam/feed ratio of 5. The found regularities are similar to those earlier obtained for other types of feedstock (propane–methane mixtures, propane, n-butane, a mixture simulating the average composition of associated petroleum gas) in this membrane reactor.