Three-step macrokinetic model of butane and propane steam conversion to methane-rich gas

Low-temperature steam conversion (LTSC) of a methane-butane mixture (95% methane and 5% butane) into a methane-rich gas over an industrial Ni-based catalyst has been studied with the following reaction conditions: temperature 200–320°C, pressure 1 bar, gas hour space velocity 1200–3600 h^–1, and steam to carbon ratio 0.64. A three-step macrokinetic model has been suggested based on the kinetic parameters found. The model includes the following reactions: (1) irreversible steam reforming; (2) CO₂ methanation, which occurs in a quasi-equilibrium mode at temperatures above 260°C; (3) hydrogenolysis of propane and butane, which is essential at temperatures below 260°C. Steam reforming was shown to limit the overall reaction rate, whereas hydrogenolysis and CO₂ methanation determined the product distribution in low- and high-temperature regions, respectively. Temperature dependencies of the product distribution for the LTSC of a model ternary methane-propane-butane mixture (85% methane, 10% propane, and 5% butane) have been successfully simulated using the three-step model suggested.