Integrated Process of Coal Pyrolysis with Steam Reforming of Methane for Improving the Tar Yield

• Published in: Energy & fuels 2014-12, Vol.28 (12), p.7377-7384
• Main Authors: Dong, Chan, Jin, Lijun, Li, Yang, Zhou, Yang, Zou, Liang, Hu, Haoquan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Coal; Cresols; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Methane; Natural gas; Phenol; Pyrolysis; Reforming; Toluene
• ISSN: 0887-0624; 1520-5029
• DOI: 10.1021/ef501796a

A novel process of integrated coal pyrolysis with steam reforming of methane (CP-SRM) was put forward for improving the tar yield. Two Chinese lignites were used to confirm the validity of the integrated process. At the investigated temperature range of 550–750 °C, CP-SRM achieves the highest tar yield, total gas yield, and C2 + C3 gas volume than coal pyrolysis in N2 (CP-N2) and H2 (CP-H2). In comparison to steam reforming of methane, CP-SRM has lower CO and H2 yields. At 650 °C, the tar yield from CP-SRM is 1.5–1.6 times and 1.3–1.4 times those from CP-N2 and CP-H2, respectively. Meanwhile, the tar from CP-SRM at 650 °C has the highest content of phenol oil, naphthalene oil, and wash oil among three atmospheres, and the sum of benzene, toluene, and xylol (BTX), phenol, cresol, and xylenol (PCX), and tricresol contents from XL-SRM is 37.5%, which is 1.18 and 1.44 times those from XL-N2 and CP-H2, respectively.