CATALYTIC COMBUSTION OF NATURAL-GAS IN A FIXED-BED REACTOR WITH FLOW REVERSAL

A new application of the fixed bed catalytic reactor with flow reversa l for combustion of natural gas is investigated by mathematical modeli ng and computer simulation. Comparison between the results obtained fo r this new reactor and those for a classic catalytic fixed bed is made . Inexpensive perovskite type catalysts containing no noble metals wer e used. It is shown that an appropriate choice of operating parameters (concentration and temperature of input gas mixture, superficial gas velocity, size and shape of catalyst and inert material, volumetric ra tio between catalyst and inert material in the bed) allows for a metha ne combustion at must lower temperatures in the reactor with flow reve rsal than in a classic catalytic reactor. Under such a low temperature combustion, no nitrogen oxides are produced.