Performance of Alternative Methane Reforms Based on Experimental Kinetic Evaluation and Simulation in a Fixed Bed Reactor

Abstract

A comparative evaluation of alternative methane reforming processes as an option to steam reforming was performed by carrying out simulations of operations in a fixed bed reactor with a Ni (4.8 wt.%/γ-Al2O3) catalyst at 1023 K under 1.0 bar. Methane reforms, including processing with carbon dioxide (DRM, CH4/CO2), autothermal reform (ATRM, CH4/H2O/O2), and combined reform (CRM, CH4/CO2/H2O/O2) had their operations predicted based on experimental data developed to represent their kinetic behavior, formalized with mechanisms and parametric quantifications. The performance of fixed bed reactor operations for methane conversions occurred with different reaction rates in the three alternative processes, and comparatively the orders of magnitude were 102, 10−1, and 10−4 in CRM, ATRM, and DRM, respectively. According to each process, the methane conversions were oriented towards the predominant productions of hydrogen or carbon monoxide, indicating the kinetic selectivities of H2, 86.1% and CO, 59.2% in CRM and DRM, respectively. Considering the possibility of catalyst deactivation by carbon deposition, its predicted yields are low due to the slow stages of its production and due to its simultaneous consumption through interactions with O2, CO2, and H2O, reflecting favorably in additional productions of H2 and CO.

Special Issue “Methane Reforming Processes”

“…Knoelchemann et al [1] focused on several methane reforming processes on a Ni-γAl 2 O 3 catalyst. They compared the processes with a kinetic study based on simulations of a packed-bed reactor.…”

Efficient Performance of the Methane-Carbon Dioxide Reform Process in a Fluidized Bed Reactor

“…Through catalytic reform, the transformation of carbonaceous raw materials into gases (hydrogen, synthesis gas) with high thermal content and with potential for intermediate products is carried out, structuring a technological base for the valorization of natural gas, biogas, and emissions [1]. The use of natural gas based on its high methane content is mainly characterized by the production of synthesis gas with different compositions of hydrogen and carbon monoxide [2,3]. An efficient way to recycle two of the most important greenhouse gases is methane-CO 2 reforming (DRM) into synthetic gas (syngas) [1].…”

“…From methane to hydrogen by catalytic cracking, an important form of carbon appears in the presence of CO 2 , in addition to preventing the deactivation of the catalytic system, promoting a significant contribution of CO in the composition of the syngas. These two reaction steps characterize dry methane reforming (DRM) as producing syngas [2]. Additions of the WGS reaction with the presence of water lead to the adjustment of the hydrogen content in the syngas composition, approaching molar equity [3].…”