Experimental study on the performance of oxidative dry reforming from simulated biogas

Abstract

This study was to investigate the CO2 reforming under isothermal condition. The fuel conversion efficiency and hydrogen-rich gas production were enhanced via the oxidative dry reforming (ODR) from simulated biogas (50%-CH4+50%-CO2). This paper covers two subjects. The first was to investigate the CO2 conversion characteristics under various feeding molar ratios (e.g. H2/CO2 and O 2/CH4 molar ratio ). In the second, the whole performance index of the reformer was investigated. The experimental results demonstrate that the CO2 reduction capacity of methane is superior to that of hydrogen. This effect is clearer under higher reaction temperatures. The ODR reaction experiment results indicate that adding appropriate amounts of oxidants can increases the methane conversion and reforming efficiency. But, the excessive oxidizes could be reduce the CO2 conversion efficiency. Additionally, at high DR/ODR reaction temperatures, reverse water-gas shifting (RWGS) side reactions become signification, which can reduce CO2 to CO efficiently, thereby improving the CO2 conversion efficiency. Overall, the optimal methane conversion efficiency can reach 100% in ODR reaction (O2/CH4 molar ratio=0.5). The CO2 conversion efficiency is based on DR reactions (CO2/CH4 molar ratio=1) reaching between 57% and 95%. © 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.