Synthesis Gas Processes for Methanol Production via CH₄ Reforming with CO₂, H₂O, and O₂

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A conceptual design for the production of synthesis gas, suitable for methanol production, is presented. We propose the reforming of natural gas with high CO 2 content by using H 2 O or H 2 O–O 2 as coreactants. A thermodynamic analysis for two reforming processes is developed to get adequate operating conditions for the reformer. The flow scheme for the syngas-methanol plant, together with the corresponding mass balances, is presented. A H 2 separation process is considered for syngas composition adjustment. The methanol-loop reactor was also included in the analysis to take into account its close relationship with the reformer’s energy balance. For a comparative study, the hypothetical expansion of an existing methanol plant based on steam reforming of natural gas was chosen. A fundamental economic study shows that combined reforming (CO 2 + H 2 O) and tri-reforming (CO 2 + H 2 O + O 2 ) of CH 4 are competitive processes, with lower operating and capital costs in comparison with steam reforming.