SIMULATION OF FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR FOR PRODUCTION OF SYN GAS FROM METHANE DRY REFORMING

Abstract

Catalytic CH4-0O2 reforming has been extensively studied for decades, since it combines CH4, the principal component of natural gas that is being used mainly as a source of energy, and CO2, a major problematic greenhouse gas, to generate syn gas for synthesis of clean liquid fuels and valuable chemicals. The reaction is particularly interesting when a feed source containing both CH4 and CO2 together is available, such as high CO2-containing natural gases, biogases and coal bed methane. This reforming reaction would not only reduce the atmospheric emissions of CO2 and the consumption of CH4, but also meet the special requirement in many synthesis processes with its proper rate of CO/H2 ratio. In literature low conversion values of CI-I4 have been reported for this reaction in fixed bed reactor, consequently fluidised bed reactor which have high heat and mass transfer efficiencies and which have larger contact area between catalyst and fluid are the current areas of investigation for dry reforming of methane. Mahecha-Botero et al., (2009b) gave a generalized comprehensive reactor model that provides a seamless way of covering the complete range of gas velocities and flow conditions from minimum bubbling conditions right upto fully fast fluidization conditions. In the present work, comprehensive reactor model proposed by Mahecha-Botero et al., (2009b) has been employed for simulating dry reforming of methane reaction in fluidized bed reactor. The model has been employed under various operating conditions to maximize CH4 conversion, CO+H2 productivity, and CO/H2 molar ratio in the product. At the optimized conditions (CO2/CH4 molar ratio = 1.5, T= 1073 K, GHSV = 1100 hr 1, P = 0.1 MPa and catalyst loading = 120 g), value of XCH4, CO+H2 productivity and CO/H2 molar ratio in product were found to be 97.64 % , 2.41 and 1.26 respectively.