Optimized Reforming of Biomass Derived Gas Based on Thermodynamic and Kinetics Analysis with Activated Carbon Fibers Supported Ni-Al2O3

Abstract

Thermodynamics and kinetics are the two key factors in optimizing the biomass derived gas reforming to obtain syngas. In this study, the effects of components of simulated biomass derived gas (CH4, CO2, H2, CO, N2 and steam), reforming conditions and different reactions on products distribution were investigated under thermodynamic equilibrium using Gibbs free energy minimization method so as to optimize the reforming conditions and provide theoretical basis for further reforming of biomass derived gas. The results showed that temperature and steam play an important role in manipulating the ratio of H2/CO during reforming. Changing the temperature and the amount of steam can promote the reverse water-gas shift reaction in different directions thereby the syngas yield can be increased and the H2/CO ratio can be adjusted so as to meet different application requirements. Furthermore, the macroscopic kinetics analysis with a simple power-law type kinetic equation over our previous reported catalyst Ni-Al2O3/ACF (Activated Carbon Fibers) used for the reforming of simulated biomass derived gas was obtained. The influence of carbon fibers on the catalytic performance of nickel-based alumina catalyst was explained in terms of activation energy.

Syngas Generation Process Simulation: A Comparative Study

“…It is also possible to make use of powerful tools, such as the Aspen Plus® software, to model systems involving complex reactions, since the program is able to calculate the chemical composition at equilibrium by minimizing the Gibbs energy, without the need to specify the stoichiometry of the reactions involved [28]- [30]. Such software has already been used in the study of both dry and steam methane reforming processes [31]- [33], in the presence of the catalyst, in different types of reactors, such as in a fluidized bed membrane reactor [31]. In [34], steam and dry biogas reforming processes were studied using the Aspen Plus® software, focusing on comparing the performance of a conventional reactor and an H2-permeable membrane reactor.…”