Synthesis gas generation by chemical-looping reforming using a Nibased oxygen carrier

This work presents the experimental results obtained during auto-thermal chemical looping reforming (CLR) in a 900 Wth circulating fluidized bed reactor using methane as fuel. An oxygen carrier based on NiO and supported on δ-Al2O3 was used during more than 50 hours of operation and the effect of different operating variables, like fuel reactor temperature, H2O/CH4 molar ratio and solid circulation rate, on CH4 conversion and gas product distribution was analyzed. It was found that in all operating conditions CH4 conversion was very high (>98%) and the most important variable affecting to the gas product distribution was the solid circulation rate, that is, NiO/CH4 molar ratio. During operation the oxygen carrier particles maintained their physical and chemical properties. These results suggest that this oxygen carrier could have a high durability, being a suitable oxygen carrier for a CLR system.