Simulation of the catalytic partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas

The modeling and simulation of reactors for the catalytic partial oxidation of natural gas to synthesis gas is complex and requires detailed kinetics if it is to be representative and reliable. Adiabatic fixed bed reactors with a catalytic combustion zone fed with methane/oxygen or methane/air mixtures were simulated based upon the kinetics of total combustion, steam reforming and water-gas shift on a Ni catalyst. The steam reforming reactions and water-gas shift reaction are parallel or more or less consecutive to the total combustion, depending upon the degree of reduction of the catalyst, which is determined by the temperature and the gas phase composition. The calculation of the net rates of coke formation was included in the simulation. The influence of carbon dioxide and steam was also investigated.