Methanation catalytic reactor

International audienceStoring renewable electricity in a natural gas grid is a new approach for seasonal storage. Using the existing natural gas infrastructure, a chemical energy source (methane) is stored efficiently, distributed and made available for use as required. Thus, the main step in the storage process is CO methanation. Modelling of an isothermal methanation catalytic reactor based on a kinetic scheme was carried out with Aspen plus™ software in a temperature range between 520 and 600 K and a H2/CO molar ratio of 3, in the presence of CO2 and steam. The model was validated by comparing simulation results with experimental ones. The maximum relative error is 10.87%. The effects of temperature, pressure and CO2 addition in feed gas (syngas) on CO conversion and the outlet gas composition were carefully investigated