Minimizing CO2 emissions for syngas production units using Dry Reforming of Methane

Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) is gaining lot of interest in academia and industry due to the perceived environmental benefits of using CO2 as a feed. Dry Reforming, of Methane (DRM) is one such process which uses CO2 and natural gas to produce a valuable intermediate, syngas (mixture of CO and H-2). However, to compare DRM with existing reforming technologies (Steam Methane Reforming - SMR and Partial Oxidation of Methane - POx) on an environmental scale, it is important to account for all sources of emissions in each process pathway. This paper discusses an optimization-based approach in LINGO to compare the carbon footprint of different syngas production networks. Reformer outputs have been estimated based on an earlier developed Gibbs energy minimization equilibrium model. The results shows that incorporating a DRM unit will have net CO2 fixation (net reduction in CO2) while producing syngas of low syngas ratios (H-2/CO) of 1 and below. However, above syngas ratio of 2, the optimization model does not select DRM in the syngas production network Which minimizes overall CO2 emissions.