To achieve the development of glycerol as biodiesel byproduct in the industry of hydrogen production

the glycerol reforming process for hydrogen production in a membrane-assisted fluidized bed reactor is numerically simulated on the basis of the two-fluid model and the kinetic theory of granular flow coupled with the glycerol reforming kinetic model

where the CO2 sorption kinetic model and hydrogen separation model are implemented. The gas component and particle concentrations as well as temperature are predicted

and the multiphase flow behaviors and reaction characteristics during the reforming process are evaluated. The mutual interaction mechanism of the two enhancing methods including membrane hydrogen separation and carbon dioxide sorption is discussed

and the impact of operating parameters on reforming performance is examined. The result reveals that the concentration polarization resistance will be restricted with the rising hydrogen permeation. At the sorbent to catalyst ratio of 1∶1

the relative hydrogen yield is improved by 5% compared to the reforming process without sorbents. When the membrane thickness is reduced from 300 μm to 30 μm

the CO2 sorption rate can be increased by 1.4%. The utilization of catalyst-sorbent bi-functional particles can enhance CO2 sorption and hydrogen separation. The hydrogen permeation is improved by almost 20%.