Modeling and Testing of a Milli-Structured Reactor for Carbon Dioxide Methanation

The methanation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) via the Sabatier reaction is an exothermic process that needs the continuous removal of the heat produced for avoiding the sintering of the catalyst. A novel milli-channel reactor with internal diameter of each channel in the millimeter size has been designed, manufactured and tested for the Sabatier reaction. Thanks to its configuration, this reactor could control effectively the heat generated by the reaction, attaining an intensification of the process. A CFD model was used to study the reaction phenomena occurring inside the reactor and the corresponding heat transfers. The kinetic parameters of the reaction have been obtained, and employing different process condition (different temperatures, pressures and gas flow rates) the results obtained have been studied. At the evaluated parameters, the CFD model fits the experimental results in the developed reactor.