| Abstract
| - This work focuses on the study of the influence of the methane combustion kinetics on theoperation of an autothermal catalytic reactor for heat generation (domestic scale). The feed(methane and air) is preheated by means of a direct heat exchange by recycling a fraction of thehot gases leaving the catalytic combustor (recycle monolithic reactor). Two kinetic models areproposed to represent the reaction. The kinetic parameters were adjusted using experimentaldata obtained from methane combustion over a laboratory catalyst (Pd on γ-Al2O3 wash-coatedcordierite monolith). Experiments were carried out for different feed temperatures (310−500°C), total flow rates [250−750 cm3/min (STP)], and inlet methane concentrations (0.8−1.6%). Aheterogeneous unidimensional steady-state model was employed to analyze the autothermalreactor performance. Using the best-fitted reaction rate expressions, conservative operatingconditions are estimated to guarantee reactor stability, almost complete methane conversion(i.e., minimal unburned hydrocarbon emissions), and a high heat generation rate.
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