LAUSR

Thermodynamic equilibrium analysis of the steam methane reforming process to synthesis gas was studied. For this purpose, the system of chemical reactions for carbon production and consumation as well as other side reaction in the steam methane reforming process were analysed. The material balance and the equations of law mass action were obtained for various chemical reactions. The system of those equations were solved by dichotomy method. The investigation was performed for a wide range of operational conditions such as a temperature, pressure, and inlet steam-to-methane ratio. The results obtained, with the help of developed algorithms, were compared with the results obtained via different commercial and open-source programs. All results are in excellent agreement. The operational conditions for the probable formation of carbon were determined. It was established that for the temperature range above 1100K the probability of carbon formation is absent for steam-to-methane ratio above units. The presented algorithm of thermodynamic analysis gives an appearance of the dependence of the product composition and the amount of required heat from operating conditions such as the temperature, pressure and steam-to-methane ratio.