Syngas formation by dry and steam reforming of methane using microwave plasma technology

[摘要] The combined dry and steam reforming of methane at atmospheric pressure was experimentally studied by using microwave plasma technology. The effect of the process parameters such as total feed gas flow rate, steam concentration and input microwave power on the synthesis gas H2/CO ratio was investigated using a commercial microwave reactor system. In order to minimise the carbon formation and plasma instability, the concentration of methane and carbon dioxide in nitrogen plasma were kept at a low level in this study. The long-term test results show that at the flow rate of 0.2 L min-1, 0.4 L min-1 and 1.5 L min-1 for CH4, CO2 and N2 respectively, the carbon formation was not detectable at the input power of 700 W. This reaction condition offers an opportunity to study the effect of adding water to the feed on the syngas ratio H2/CO. The test results show that a higher CH4 conversion (82.74%), H2 selectivity (98.79%) and yield (81.73%) were achieved compared with those of the dry reforming at the same operating conditions. With the steam addition, the desired H2/CO ratio for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process can be reached.

[发布机构] Petroleum Technology Department, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq^1;Department of Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth; WA; 6845, Australia^2

[关键词] Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process;Microwave plasma technology;Microwave reactor systems;Operating condition;Process parameters;Reaction conditions;Steam concentrations;Steam reforming of methane