Thermodynamic analysis of hydrocarbon reforming

Abstract

A holistic hydrocarbon reforming analysis is performed using equilibrium calculations based on Gibbs energy minimization. The reforming feed composition is defined based on the oxygen to carbon atom ratio and the hydrogen to carbon atom ratio. The coke formation, carbon dioxide yield, and synthesis gas mole fraction were investigated to determine an operating composition region for hydrocarbon reforming while the hydrogen yield, hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio, and the stoichiometric ratio were investigated to determine the reforming feed composition to produce hydrogen and optimal synthesis gas compositions for downstream processes. Our findings show that the synthesis of hydrogen via the reforming process will result in carbon dioxide emissions for any hydrocarbon feed. To produce the optimal synthesis gas for oxo-synthesis, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and methanol synthesis, our findings show that reforming with methane provides the best opportunity for incorporation of carbon dioxide, while the reforming of coke does not result in the incorporation of carbon dioxide.