CATALYTIC PARTIAL OXIDATION OF METHANE IN A NOVEL HEAT-INTEGRATED WALL REACTOR

A novel reactor has been developed and applied in the reaction of part ial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas. The reactor consists of a c eramic tube in the inner and outer surface of which a metal catalyst f ilm is deposited. The CH4/O-2 feed enters into the tube and a large fr action of the heat generated on the wall by methane combustion is tran sported across the tube wall towards the outer catalyst film, where th e endothermic reforming reactions take place. In this way, the tempera ture in the combustion zone is controlled and hot spots are significan tly reduced in magnitude. Initial results presented in this work demon strate the feasibility of the concept.