RETRACTED: Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of the Catalytic Partial Oxidation of Methane in Microchannel Reactors for Synthesis Gas Production

Junjie Chen,Wenya Song,Deguang Xu

doi:10.3390/pr6070083

Junjie Chen, Wenya Song + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/pr6070083

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Journal: Processes	Publication Date: Jun 30, 2018
Citations: 4	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Henan Polytechnic University

Abstract

This paper addresses the issues related to the favorable operating conditions for the small-scale production of synthesis gas from the catalytic partial oxidation of methane over rhodium. Numerical simulations were performed by means of computational fluid dynamics to explore the key factors influencing the yield of synthesis gas. The effect of mixture composition, pressure, preheating temperature, and reactor dimension was evaluated to identify conditions that favor a high yield of synthesis gas. The relative importance of heterogeneous and homogenous reaction pathways in determining the distribution of reaction products was investigated. The results indicated that there is competition between the partial and total oxidation reactions occurring in the system, which is responsible for the distribution of reaction products. The contribution of heterogeneous and homogeneous reaction pathways depends upon process conditions. The temperature and pressure play an important role in determining the fuel conversion and the synthesis gas yield. Undesired homogeneous reactions are favored in large reactors, and at high temperatures and pressures, whereas desired heterogeneous reactions are favored in small reactors, and at low temperatures and pressures. At atmospheric pressure, the selectivity to synthesis gas is higher than 98% at preheating temperatures above 900 K when oxygen is used as the oxidant. At pressures below 1.0 MPa, alteration of the dimension in the range of 0.3 and 1.5 mm does not result in significant difference in reactor performance, if made at constant inlet flow velocities. Air shows great promise as the oxidant, especially at industrially relevant pressure 3.0 MPa, thereby effectively inhibiting the initiation of undesired homogeneous reactions.

Highlights

There has been an increasing interest in the production of synthesis gas through the catalytic partial oxidation of methane [1,2], due to its potential applications in many fields such as fuel cells [3,4]and gas turbines [5,6]
The results presented above indicate that the design shows great promise for the production of synthesis gas from methane
The catalytic partial oxidation process under extremely short contact time conditions can be accurately described by the model via the combination of detailed heterogeneous and homogenous reaction mechanisms

Summary

Introduction

There has been an increasing interest in the production of synthesis gas through the catalytic partial oxidation of methane [1,2], due to its potential applications in many fields such as fuel cells [3,4]and gas turbines [5,6]. There has been an increasing interest in the production of synthesis gas through the catalytic partial oxidation of methane [1,2], due to its potential applications in many fields such as fuel cells [3,4]. It is important to develop new reaction routes for the production of synthesis gas from methane. A promising reaction route that has received much attention recently is the catalytic partial oxidation of methane in short contact time reactors in high temperature environment [10,11,12], where a high yield of synthesis gas (higher than 90%) can be achieved [13]. In comparison with other synthesis gas production routes, this technology shows great promise because higher selectivity and better efficiency can be achieved [14]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion