COMBUSTION OF METHANE IN A CYCLIC CATALYTIC REACTOR

An experimental study of the catalytic fixed bed with reverse flow for combustion of natural gas has been carried out. An insulated reactor 0.67 m long and 0.05 m in diameter was used. It is shown that an appropriate choice of operating parameters such as superficial gas velocity, concentration of input gas mixture, and cycle period allows for methane combustion at temperature as low as 650 degrees C with no NOx production. In order to account for heat losses, a heterogeneous mathematical model is developed. This model is then tested by comparing the calculated axial temperature profiles in the reactor with the experimental ones under various operating conditions. A good agreement is found and the proposed model is able to predict satisfactory the thermal behavior of the cyclic catalytic reactor.