Synthesis gas production using steam hydrogasification and steam reforming

Experimental work has been carried out on the mixed reforming reaction, i.e., simultaneous steam and CO2 reforming of methane under a wide range of feed compositions and four different reaction temperatures from 700 °C to 850 °C using a commercial steam reforming catalyst. The experiments were conducted for a CO2/CH4 ratio from 0 to 2 and a steam to methane ratio from 3 to 5. The effect of CO2/CH4 ratio on the exit H2/CO ratio and the conversions of the reactants indicate that the dry reforming reaction is dominant under increased carbon dioxide in the feed. Steam reforming of typical steam hydrogasification product gas consisting of CO, H2 and CO2 in addition to steam and methane has also been investigated. The H2/CO ratio of the product synthesis gas varies from 4.3 to 3.7 and from 4.8 to 4.1 depending on the feed composition and reaction temperature. The CO/CO2 ratios of the synthesis gas varied from 1.9 to 2.9 and 2.0 to 3.3. The results are compared with simulation results obtained through the Aspen Plus process simulation tool. The results demonstrate that a coupled steam hydrogasification and reforming process can generate a synthesis gas with a flexible H2/CO ratio from carbon-containing feedstocks.