Intensified reactor for lean methane emissions treatment

The Global Methane Pledge declared at the 2021 United Nations climate change conference (COP26) marked the world's commitment to eradicate methane emissions. Regardless of the source, methane emissions are typically generated in a lean composition (e.g., < 1% vol), remote and scattered. This work explores the use of an intensified reactor that implements the chemical looping principle to handle lean methane emissions. A model-based framework is used to showcase the baseline performance of the proposed reactor in converting methane emissions using nickel-based oxygen carriers. Sensitivity analysis of the reactor showed that the Ni percentage in the oxygen carrier, the feed air temperature, feed air to flared gas ratio, and oxidation to reduction duration ratio are the most deciding variables for reactor performance. The reactor is subsequently optimized to minimize the methane emitted, using a dynamic program with safety and operability constraints for the alternating redox process. With the optimal cycle strategy, we demonstrate that near-complete methane conversion (> 98% methane conversion) can be achieved by the reactor without external heating.

Automated summary

The Global Methane Pledge announced at COP26 aims to eliminate methane emissions worldwide. This study investigates the use of an intensified reactor based on the chemical looping principle to tackle lean methane emissions. A model-based framework demonstrates the baseline performance of the reactor in converting methane emissions. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the nickel percentage in the oxygen carrier, feed air temperature, feed air to flared gas ratio, and oxidation to reduction duration ratio significantly influence reactor performance. With optimization, near-complete methane conversion (> 98% methane conversion) is achieved by the reactor without external heating.