An industrial Steam Methane Reformer optimization using response surface methodology

AbstractSteam methane reforming is an endothermic reaction which is considered as one of the main processes in hydrogen and syngas production. This process has been modelled and optimized in the present study using design of experiment and response surface methodology. The hydrogen production and unreacted methane mole fractions are considered as two responses. Temperature, pressure and flowrate of input feed, tube wall temperature, steam to methane ratio, and hydrogen to methane ratio in the input feed are considered as the independent factors, and their effects on the responses have been studied. Finally, the optimum values of independent factors and responses are reported. The average error was about 7%, which shows the presented model has an acceptable validity