Simulation of fluidized bed reactor for producing synthesis gas by catalytic CH4–CO2 reforming

• Simulation of dry reforming of methane in fluidized bed reactor.
• Optimization of parameters like CO2/CH4 molar ratio, temperature, gas hourly space velocity, pressure and catalyst loading.
• Optimization of reactor for maximum CH4 conversion, CO + H2 productivity, and CO/H2 molar ratio in the synthesis gas.

Catalytic CH4–CO2 reforming combines methane and CO2 to produce synthesis gas. In the present paper, dry reforming of methane has been simulated in a fluidized bed reactor using a modified comprehensive reactor model. The model has been employed to study the effect of various operating parameters like CO2/CH4 feed ratio, gas hourly space velocity (GHSV), pressure (P) and catalyst loading (w) on CH4 conversion (XCH4XCH4), CO + H2 productivity and CO/H2 molar ratio in product. Simulation results were compared with experimental data reported in the literature (Chem. Eng. Sci. 2000, 55, 3955–3966). At the optimum condition (CO2/CH4 molar ratio = 1.5, temperature = 1073 K, GHSV = 1100 h−1, pressure = 0.1 MPa and catalyst loading (w) = 120 g), values of XCH4XCH4, CO + H2 productivity and CO/H2 molar ratio in product were found to be 97.64%, 2.41 and 1.26, respectively.

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