Toward the ultimate efficiency of methane to syngas conversion by partial oxidation: A moving bed reactor with parallel preheating of reactants

Abstract

The conversion of methane to syngas by partial oxidation combined with steam reforming in a counterflow moving bed reactor is theoretically considered. The conversion proceeds in filtration combustion mode with the non-premixed flows of steam–methane and oxidant gas. The flow of solid granular heat carrier is divided in two subflows used to preheat, respectively, steam–methane flow and oxidant gas flow prior to the reaction. The calculations are performed under assumption of thermodynamic equilibrium established in the reaction products. For the main control parameters – the flow rates of oxidant gas, steam, and solid heat carrier, related to the flow rate of methane – the parametric domain has been determined that provides a highly efficient conversion in the absence of soot in the products. Efficient heat recuperation with the solid heat carrier makes attainable conversion with the oxygen-to-methane molar ratio as low as 0.43. The flow arrangement with separate preheating of the reactants prior to reaction promises a highly efficient method of converting hydrocarbons to syngas or hydrogen.