Modeling and simulation of catalytic partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas by using a plasma-assisted gliding arc reactor

In the present study, a numerical investigation of the catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) of methane to synthesis gas (syngas) using a gliding arc (GlidArc) reactor is presented. A 2D heterogeneous plug-flow model with radial dispersion and no gradients inside the catalyst pellet are used, including the transport equations for the gas and solid phase and reaction rate equations. The governing equations of this model formed a set of stationary differential algebraic equations coupled with the non-linear algebraic equations, and were solved numerically using in-house MATLAB® code. Model results of CPO of methane were compared to previous experimental data with the GlidArc reactor found in the literature. A close match between the calculated and experimental results for temperature, reactant (CH4 and O2) conversion, H2 and CO yields and species mole-fraction was obtained. The developed model was extended to predict and quantify the influence of the gas hour space velocity (GHSV) as well as determine the influence of the reactor energy density (RED), the O2/CH4 molar ratio and the O2/N2 molar ratio. The predicted behaviors for the species mole-fraction, reactants conversion, H2 and CO yields and temperature along the length of the reactor have been analyzed.

► A 2D heterogeneous model for plasma-assisted CPO of methane to syngas is developed.
► The reactor model includes transport equations and main global surface reactions.
► A close match between the calculated and experimental results is obtained.
► Parametric sensitivity analysis with detailed numerical simulations is also provided.