Modeling of Reverse Flow Partial Oxidation Process for Gasifier Product Gas Upgrading

Biomass gasification is one of the alternatives to producing liquid fuels and chemicals from biomass residues. The gas produced in gasification contains CO, H2, H2O, CO2, light hydrocarbons and tars. Depending on the gasifier type, operating conditions and fuel, the light hydrocarbons can contain as much as 50 % of the total energy contents in the gas. The gas also contains catalyst poisons such as sulfur, as H2S and COS. This paper presents simulation work of a reverse flow partial oxidation reformer that reaches efficiencies approaching conventional catalytical processes. Furthermore, different reactor designs and parameter variations such as pressure are investigated. For comparison, natural gas simulations are included which clearly show the benefits of using reverse flow operation with lean gases such as gasifier product gas.