Integrated Process of Coal Pyrolysis with Steam Reforming of Methane for Improving the Tar Yield

A novel process of integrated coal pyrolysis with steam reforming of methane (CP-SRM) was put forward for improving the tar yield. Two Chinese lignites were used to confirm the validity of the integrated process. At the investigated temperature range of 550–750 °C, CP-SRM achieves the highest tar yield, total gas yield, and C 2 + C 3 gas volume than coal pyrolysis in N 2 (CP-N 2 ) and H 2 (CP-H 2 ). In comparison to steam reforming of methane, CP-SRM has lower CO and H 2 yields. At 650 °C, the tar yield from CP-SRM is 1.5–1.6 times and 1.3–1.4 times those from CP-N 2 and CP-H 2, respectively. Meanwhile, the tar from CP-SRM at 650 °C has the highest content of phenol oil, naphthalene oil, and wash oil among three atmospheres, and the sum of benzene, toluene, and xylol (BTX), phenol, cresol, and xylenol (PCX), and tricresol contents from XL-SRM is 37.5%, which is 1.18 and 1.44 times those from XL-N 2 and CP-H 2, respectively.