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Abstract: A porous medium-catalyst hybrid reformer for CO2 conversion by dry auto-thermal reforming (DATR) was investigated in this study, and its operating range was discovered. The hybrid design was used to enhance the oxidative heat release by internal heat recirculation during exothermic reaction conditions, thereby increasing the CO2 conversion efficiency. The experimental results show that the CO2 conversion could be enhanced with higher catalyst inlet temperatures. The examination of the operating range of DATR showed that the CO2 conversion efficiency increased at higher reaction temperatures and CO2/CH4 ratios (≧1). Moreover, DATR in high temperature conditions must be carried out with high O2/CH4 ratios. Under these conditions of high oxygen content, CO2 generation and reduction reactions occur simultaneously. Overall, optimal CO2 conversion can be obtained with an O2/CO2 ratio of approximately 0.5. At these conditions, CO2 conversion efficiency can reach approximately 13% without external heat addition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper investigated the design of a porous medium–catalyst hybrid reformer for CO 2 conversion by dry auto-thermal reforming, with emphasis on the reaction temperature distribution. In the reforming process, the reaction under excess enthalpy was explored by interface temperature measurement and infrared thermograph observation in a porous medium assisted packed-bed catalyst reactor. The hybrid design was arranged with the catalytic packed-bed in the downstream of the porous medium. In the arrangement, the reactants were preheated by internal heat recirculation and the conversion of CO 2 was enhanced by the catalyst surface reaction. The temperature measurement at the axial position and infrared thermograph observation on the catalyst packed-bed indicated that the peak temperature could be stabilized and held at the interface of the PM and catalyst bed, which significantly improved the propagation and stability of the flame. This was helpful to the improvement of both thermal wave transfer and internal heat recirculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]