Tri-Reforming of Methane: Thermodynamics, Operating Conditions, Reactor Technology and Efficiency Evaluation—A Review

• Published in: Energies (Basel) Vol. 15; no. 19; p. 7159
• Main Authors: Soleimani, Samira, Lehner, Markus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-09-2022
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Biogas; Carbon dioxide; Catalysts; Climate change; CO2 emission mitigation; Conversion; Efficiency; Energy consumption; Energy resources; Energy usage; Feasibility studies; Flue gas; Gases; Hydrocarbons; Methane; Natural gas; Nuclear safety; operational conditions; Power plants; Reaction kinetics; Reactor technology; Reactors; Reforming; Simulation; syngas production; Synthesis gas; Thermodynamics; tri-reforming of methane
• ISSN: 1996-1073; 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en15197159

The production of syngas with optimal energy usage, a minimal environmental impact, and an adjustable H2/CO molar ratio is possible using tri-reforming of methane (TRM). Despite the number of studies dedicated to the TRM process, this process is still in its infancy, with many technical obstacles to overcome. Except for its kinetics and catalysts, which have been reviewed elsewhere, the TRM process is evaluated thoroughly in this work. First, feasibility studies of TRM and the TRM process are presented. Second, the impacts of various operating conditions on the rate of gas conversions, syngas production, and coke formation are discussed. Third, different reactor configurations are compared. This review then goes through the energy and energetic efficiency, economic, environmental, and safety aspects of the TRM process. Finally, a research path for the future is suggested.