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How to produce syngas ?

If the feedstock is NG, syngas (CO + H2) is usually produced by steam reforming  and/or partial oxidation with air or pure oxygen. The following equations express the steam reforming reaction and the partial oxidation reaction of hydrocarbons respectively.

Steam Reforming  (catalytic endthermic reaction) 

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CmHn + m H2O → m CO + (m+n/2) H2                                                    (1)

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Partial Oxidation ("POx") (catalytic or non-catalytic exothermic reaction)

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CmHn + m/2 O2   → m CO + n/2 H2                                                                           (2)

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Finally, the product composition of syngas approaches to chemical equilibrium determined by the following two reactions with the respective approach temperatures duly depending on the volume of applied catalyst(s) and the operating conditions.

Steam Ref General
POx General

Steam Methane Reforming ("SMR"), where m=1 and n=4

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CH4 + H2O =  CO + 3 H2                                    ΔH = 205.7 MJ/kmol           (3)

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CO Shift Reaction

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CO + H2O =  CO2 + H2                                       ΔH = -41.2 MJ/kmol           (4)

Click here about reforming configuration.

SMR
CO Shift
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