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2.1 Temperature Has an Effect on Methane Conversion
at Equilibrium
Using the Gibbs free energy minimization routine and considering CO, H 2 , H 2 O and
solid-carbon as the products, we found that as the temperature increases from 0 °C
the equilibrium conversion of methane decreases, and reaches a minimum at
approximately 340 °C. A further increase in temperature increases the conversion of
methane. A similar trend is observed for CO 2 conversion, except that the lowest
conversion is achieved at around 550 °C. The H 2 /CO ratio, on the other hand,
decreases monotonically as the temperature increases, and asymptotically
approaches a value of unity as the temperature reaches about 900 °C (Fig. 1).
Usually, low temperature studies are avoided due to the small rates and often hightemperature studies, greater than 500 °C, are examined.
2.2 Temperature Also Has an Effect on Product Yield
at Equilibrium
Assuming CO, H 2 , H 2 O and solid-carbon as the only products, the equilibrium
amount of H 2 and CO formed follows a sigmoidal curve, asymptotically reaching
the highest value at temperatures more than 1000 °C, where complete conversion of
Fig. 1 Effect of temperature on equilibrium conversion of CH 4 , CO 2 and H 2 /CO ratio. The DRM
and carbon formation reactions have been modelled in ASPEN PLUS™. Inlet moles: F CH4 = 1 mol/h
and F CO4 = 1 mol/h
S. Gupta et al.
2.1 Temperature Has an Effect on Methane Conversion
at Equilibrium
Using the Gibbs free energy minimization routine and considering CO, H 2 , H 2 O and
solid-carbon as the products, we found that as the temperature increases from 0 °C
the equilibrium conversion of methane decreases, and reaches a minimum at
approximately 340 °C. A further increase in temperature increases the conversion of
methane. A similar trend is observed for CO 2 conversion, except that the lowest
conversion is achieved at around 550 °C. The H 2 /CO ratio, on the other hand,
decreases monotonically as the temperature increases, and asymptotically
approaches a value of unity as the temperature reaches about 900 °C (Fig. 1).
Usually, low temperature studies are avoided due to the small rates and often hightemperature studies, greater than 500 °C, are examined.
2.2 Temperature Also Has an Effect on Product Yield
at Equilibrium
Assuming CO, H 2 , H 2 O and solid-carbon as the only products, the equilibrium
amount of H 2 and CO formed follows a sigmoidal curve, asymptotically reaching
the highest value at temperatures more than 1000 °C, where complete conversion of
Fig. 1 Effect of temperature on equilibrium conversion of CH 4 , CO 2 and H 2 /CO ratio. The DRM
and carbon formation reactions have been modelled in ASPEN PLUS™. Inlet moles: F CH4 = 1 mol/h
and F CO4 = 1 mol/h
S. Gupta et al.