Experimental investigation of steam and carbon dioxide influence on methane filtration combustion in a reversal flow porous media reactor

A reverse flow porous medium reactor with premixed and non-premixed flames was experimentally investigated to evaluate the influence of steam and carbon dioxide on methane (CH4) filtration combustion for syngas production. Premixed, non-premixed, and non-premixed with steam were the tested cases for different injection configurations. Thermal profiles, combustion products, hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) yields for several equivalence ratios are analyzed. Non-premixed case exposed higher maximum temperatures due to the reactant accumulation at the crosswise injection position, with a temperature of 1615 K. The lack of homogenization of the reactants in this configuration leads to low H2 and high CO concentrations compared to the premixed case. The maximum CO yield was 92.81% for the non-premixed configuration with alternated air injection, while the maximum H2 yield was 37.8% for the premixed air-methane-steam case. It was found that the air-methane-carbon dioxide mixtures had lower temperatures, combustion wave velocities, and H2 and CO concentrations, compared to the air-methane, and air-methane-steam mixtures, but higher CH4 and CO2 concentrations. The premixed configuration with air-methane-carbon dioxide mixture showed higher temperatures, and H2 and CO concentrations, compared to the non-premixed configuration. Further studies are necessary to optimize the operation of these types of reactors.