Propane Pre-Reforming into Methane-Rich Gas over Ni Catalyst: Experiment and Kinetics Elucidation via Genetic Algorithm

Pre-reforming of propane was studied over an industrial nickel-chromium catalyst under pressures of 1 and 5 bar, at a low steam to carbon molar ratio of 1, in the temperature range of 220–380 °C and at flow rates of 4000 and 12,000 h−1. It was shown that propane conversion proceeded more efficiently at low pressure (1 atm) and temperatures above 350 °C. A genetic algorithm was applied to search for kinetic parameters better fitting experimental results in such a wide range of experimental conditions. Power law and Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics were considered. It was shown that only Langmuir–Hinshelwood type kinetics correctly described the experimental data and could be used to simulate the process of propane pre-reforming and predict propane conversion under the given reaction conditions. The significance of Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics increases under high pressure and temperatures below 350 °C.