Detailed Investigation of the Partial Oxidation of Methane in a Porous Reactor for Synthesis Gas Production: Experimental and Numerical Study

摘要

A detailed investigation of the thermal partial oxidation process of methane in inert porous media was performed experimentally and numerically. In the experimental part, two different porous materials, SiC foam and Al_2O_3 static mixer, were used in the reaction zone. Temperature and concentration profiles of CO, H_2, CO_2, C_2H_2 and CH_4 along the reactor central axis were measured. The effects of air preheating temperature, thermal load and air ratio on the reforming process were investigated for both structures. Additionally, a numerical study including detailed chemical kinetics was performed. A heterogeneous approach for the heat transport modeling in porous media (separate coupled energy equations for the gas and solid phases) was used.