Question

Synthesis gas may be produce by the catalyst reforming of methane with steam. The

reactions are:

CH4 + H2O → CO + 3H2

CO + H2O → CO2 + H2

A small plant is being to produce 1000 mol/s of hydrogen (H2) by the reactions. 280

mol/s of Methane with 100 % of excess steam (excess % relative to the reaction one)

are fed to the heat exchanger at 150 °C and heated with superheated vapor. The

superheated vapor inlet to the heat exchanger at 10 bar and 750 °C and leaves

saturated at the same pressure. The mixture of methane and steam leaved the heat

exchanger and inlet to the reactor at 600 °C. The methane reaction conversion is 95%,

and the products emerge from the reactor at 1000 °C.

State any assumptions:

Base the information above, do or answer the following:

a) Draw the diagram of the process.

b) Solve the mass balances.

c) Determine the CO conversion in the second reaction

d) Determine the heat gained by the mixture of methane and steam in the heat

exchanger [kW].

e) Calculate the amount of superheated vapor fed to the heat exchanger [kg/s]

f) Determine the heat of reaction for both reaction at 25 °C in [kJ/mol]

g) Determine the heat lost/gained by the by the reactor [kW]

Answer 1