Mohsen Abbasi

In this paper, a feasibility study for the application of chemical-looping combustion (CLC) instead of fired furnace for synthesis gas production during methanol synthesis in an industrial-scale conventional steam reformers (CSR) has been considered. The aims are the prevention of large emission of CO2 to atmosphere and enhancement of synthesis gas production. For this purpose, employment of Ni18–Al2O3, Ni40–Al2O3, and Fe45–Al2O3 oxygen carrier (OC) has been investigated. Simulation results show that complete oxidation and reduction of OC occurs in air reactor and fuel reactor (FR), respectively. Also, combustion efficiency reaches to 1 in the FR part of CLC-SR with all types of OCs. Utilizing CLC instead of fired furnace enhances CH4 conversion and H2 yield in SR side of CLC-SR. Results indicate that in CLC-SR, CH4 conversion is equal to 26.4, 27.96, and 26.33% via Ni18–Al2O3, Ni40–Al2O3, and Fe45–Al2O3 OC, respectively, in comparison with 26% in CSR. Slightly higher conversion is observed with Ni40–Al2O3, i.e., from 26% to almost 28%. Synthesis gas production increases from 3633 kmol h?1 in CSR to 3639, 3868, and 3673 kmol h?1 in CLC-SR via Ni18–Al2O3, Ni40–Al2O3, and Fe45–Al2O3 OC, respectively. Results illustrate that by increasing FR feed temperature from 800 to 1000 K, CH4 conversion in SR side increases 4.99, 7.93, and 4.57% by using Ni18–Al2O3, Ni40–Al2O3, and Fe45–Al2O3 OC, respectively, in comparison with CSR. Also, synthesis gas production enhances 15 and 26.01%via Ni18–Al2O3,Ni40–Al2O3, and Fe45–Al2O3 OC, respectively, in comparison with CSR.