Dry reforming of CH4 with CO2 in an electrically heated reactor using renewable energy

The increasing share of renewable energies, particularly from wind and solar energy, leads to a fluctuating power supply. In order to integrate these sources into the existing grid, temporary excess energy has to be stored. Concepts that allow the integration of electrical energy into existing value chains are increasingly discussed as an alternative to large scale storage systems. The production of synthesis gas is suitable for this approach as it serves as basis for a wide range of processes in the chemical industry. Dry reforming of methane to synthesis gas further allows the utilization of CO2 as feedstock contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases and allowing the integration of CO2 into polymers and synthetic fuels.
In this thesis an electrically heated reactor concept for dry reforming of methane is investigated. The concept simultaneously refers to both mentioned aspects of CO2 utilization and the integration of renewable energies into chemical processes. According to the practical work, the thesis is divided into three main chapters. The first package deals with the analysis of the relevant reactions in the laboratory. The second working package is related to the theoretical investigation using numerical simulation tools. The design, construction and operation of a pilot plant for the dry reforming process are the third main aspect.
The experimental analysis proved the suitability of the electrically heated reformer for the dry reforming process and favorable reaction conditions were identified without showing signs of deactivation of the catalyst used. Experimental data was used to validate the simulation model. Afterwards, a simulation based design of a larger scale reactor was conducted. Details of the reactor construction used in the pilot plant have been developed in view of a scale-up to the industrial scale. Experiments in the pilot scale proofed that the reactor construction meets the requirements regarding heat supply as well as resistance to frequent pressure and temperature changes. Therefore, the reactor is suitable for the dry reforming process.