Effect of steam addition and distance between inlet nozzles on non-catalytic POX process under MILD combustion condition

Abstract

Moderate or intensive low-oxygen dilution (MILD) combustion is a novel combustion technology with high efficiency and low emissions. Few studies have been performed on the application of this technology for partial oxidation processes. In this research, a Computational Fluid Dynamics study for the effect of different parameters on the natural gas partial oxidation under MILD combustion conditions has been carried out. The combustion chamber was in the form of cylinder with a diameter of 300 mm and a length of 1500 mm. The effect of parameters such as different kinetic mechanisms, adding ethane and propane to methane (shale gas feed), adding steam to the feed and distance (interval) between methane and oxygen nozzles were investigated. Results showed that addition of ethane and propane to methane increased the mole fraction of CO and C2H2 so that, in the case of mixed methane with ethane and propane compared to the case of pure methane, an increase of 18.75% and 12.93% was observed for CO and C2H2, respectively. In addition, with increasing the percentage of steam in the inlet feed at a constant flow rate, methane conversion increased so that it in the case of 30% inlet steam was 77.17%, which showed 11% promotion compared to the pure methane case. Also, increasing the distance between the fuel and oxidizer nozzles led to an increase in the maximum temperature in the combustion chamber.