Methanation with Variation of Temperature and Space Velocity on Ni Catalysts

Syngas from gasification of coal can be converted to SNG(Synthesis Natural Gas) through gas cleaning, water gas shift, CO2 removal, and methanation. One of the key technologies involved in the production of SNG is the methanation process. In the methanation process, carbon oxide is converted into methane by reaction with hydrogen. Major factors of methanation are hydrogen-carbon oxide ratio, reaction temperature and space velocity. In order to understand the catalytic behavior, temperature programmed surface reaction (TPSR) experiments and reaction in a fixed bed reactor of carbon monoxide have been performed using two commercial catalyst with different Ni contents (Catalyst A, B). In case of catalyst A, CO conversion was over 99% at the temperature range of 350~420℃ and CO conversions and CH4 selectivity were lower at the space condition over 3000 1/h. In case of catalyst B, CO conversion was 100% at the temperature over 370℃ and CO conversions and CH4 selectivity were lower at the space condition over 4700 1/h. Also, conditions to satisfy CH4 productivity over 500 ml/h.g-cat were over 2000 1/h of space velocity in case of catalyst A and over 2300 1/h of space velocity in case of catalyst B.