Process and Reactor Consideration for Syngas Production From Natural Gas Tri-Reforming

The methane tri-reforming (TRM) process, encompassing steam methane reforming (SMR), dry methane reforming (DMR), and partial oxidation of methane (POX), is a promising method for synthesizing syngas. SMR and DMR are endothermic, while POX is exothermic, providing necessary energy on-site. Methane reacts with H2O, CO2, and O2, yielding syngas with desired Hydrogen-to-carbon monoxide ratios (1.5–2.0). Introducing H2O and O2 enhances catalyst stability by mitigating coke production. TRM efficiently generates syngas, minimizing environmental impact and enabling H2/CO ratio adjustment. This chapter comprehensively evaluates the procedure, kinetic and mechanism considerations, reactor technology evaluation, thermodynamics, and operating conditions in the tri-reforming process. The examination of kinetic and mechanistic aspects offers valuable insights into the pathways of the tri-reforming reaction, helping to identify rate-determining steps. This chapter provides a comprehensive understanding of TRM, aiding future research directions and addressing its early-stage developmental challenges.