Abstract

Reverse flow porous medium reactor with premixed and non-premixed flames of methane and oxidant was experimentally investigated to evaluate its suitability for hydrogen (H2) and syngas production. Methane-air premixed, non-premixed, and non-premixed with steam were the tested cases for different inlet configurations. Thermal profiles, wave velocities, and H2 and carbon monoxide (CO) production for equivalence ratios (ϕ) of 2, 3 and 4 were analyzed. Methane-air premixed flames at ϕ = 2 obtained good performance with 1574 K average and 31% and 68% of H2 and CO yield, respectively. The H2/CO ratios in syngas registered were 1.1, 1.7 and 1.5 at equivalence ratios of ϕ = 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Methane-air non-premixed flames obtained higher temperature in the zone of methane injection but no higher syngas production when compared to the premixed case. The H2/CO ratios in syngas registered were 2 and 2.4 at equivalence ratios of ϕ = 2 and 3, respectively. Methane-air non-premixed with steam shows a similarity between the temperature of without steam cases, which implies the lower influence of the steam on the reaction mechanism. Results show that separate supply of reagents allows obtaining synthesis gas with a higher H2/CO ratio than premixed case.