Simulation of Partial Oxidation of Methane on the Rhodium Coated Foam Monolith Based on the Elementary Kinetics

The Rhodium-impregnated foam monolith catalyst was applied to the catalytic partial oxidation of methane(CPOM)to syngas.Under the auto-thermal condition with milliseconds contact time,the reaction conversion and selectivity can almost reach their equilibrium states.The one-dimensional simulation based on the plug flow reactor(PFR)model with detailed elementary kinetics was carried out to explain the process of the millisecond catalytic reaction.In the range of CH4/O2 from 1.7 to 2.3 and environmental temperature from 550℃to 800℃,the model predictions have good agreement with the experimental results in terms of the reaction conversion and selectivity.Detailed information,such as the profiles of the composition in the gas phase and the absorbed species on the catalyst was revealed by simulations.The simulations also indicate that the conversion of methane and selectivity to H2 and CO for this process can be greatly improved with the increase of the effective internal surface area of the catalyst and the adsorption capability of methane on the catalyst.