EVALUATION OF FLUIDIZED-BED METHANATION CATALYSTS AND REACTOR MODELING

Performance data have been obtained for several methanation catalysts in both a bench-scale fixed-bed reactor and in a larger-scale fluidized-bed reactor. Three catalysts containing molybdenum were found to give selectivities (water-gas shift reaction vs. hydrocarbon formation) approaching 50% at 80% CO conversion. Three catalysts containing cobalt were found to give less than 20% selectivity, making them less useful in reactors where both reactions are desired. The performance of two catalysts containing molybdenum and two containing cobalt in the bench-scale unit were fitted to a simple first-order rate equation. This kinetic model was then used in a simple fluidized-bed reactor model to predict the performance of the larger-scale methanator. A reasonable match between predicted and experimental results was obtained. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.