Reforming of methane in a multistage microstructured reactor

The concept of a multistage microstructured (MM) reactor was tested in the bench-scale rig for combined steam and CO2 reforming of methane (RM). In this reactor type, the RM reaction is carried out in a series of adiabatic catalytic reaction steps with heat supply through fin-plate heat exchangers placed between the stages. The RM reaction was performed over a rhodium-based catalyst in the form of pellets. The experimental results were described with a reaction engineering model that can be used as the basis for model-supported scale-up. This paper describes an intermediate step in the development of the integrated reactor for thermal integration of oxidative coupling of methane and RM. Conversion and yield near thermodynamic equilibrium were achieved. Experiments confirmed the advantages of the MM reactor over wall-coated microreactors.