Biogas partial oxidation in a heat recirculation reactor for syngas production

Carbon dioxide and methane are two most important gases causing global warming; they are also the most crucial constituents in biogas. To efficiently convert the two greenhouse gases from biogas into synthesis gas (or syngas), the catalytic partial oxidation of methane (CPOM) triggered by a rhodium-based (Rh-based) catalyst in a spiral Swiss-roll reactor is studied numerically. Three different biogases, including landfill, sewage, and farm biogases, are taken into consideration, while the O₂-to-CH₄ (O₂/CH₄) molar ratio is between 0.6 and 0.7. The reaction mechanisms in the catalyst bed suggest that the dry reforming is the dominant mechanism for syngas formation, and up to 31.12 % of CO₂ can be converted into CO. On account of CO₂ utilization in the excess enthalpy reactor, the CO yield is normally greater than the theoretical result of CPOM. The highest syngas yield is 2.80 mol / (mol CH₄). As a whole, the performance of CPOM in the Swiss-roll reactor is superior to those in conventional reactors, and is a promising device to achieve syngas production and CO₂ utilization with high efficiency.