Techno-economic analysis of integrating the methane oxidative coupling and methane reforming processes

Technical potentials and economical aspects of integrating the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) process and methane reforming process, especially carbon dioxide methane reforming (dry reforming), were analyzed. First, the detailed fixed and operating costs of the OCM process were reviewed to diagnose the process deficiencies through a comprehensive techno-economic analysis. Next, the experimental data obtained from the mini-plant scale OCM facility constructed in Berlin Institute of Technology were exploited to guide the analysis and screen the conceptual alternatives of the integrated structure. Then, the performance of an adsorption system in the down streaming sections of the individual OCM process as well as in the integrated process was investigated. In such analysis, the detailed model-based representation of the OCM and methane reforming reactors along with the short-cut modeling of the down streaming sections were utilized to highlight the potentials of the alternative integrated structures. Several performance indicators including the level of methane conversion, ethylene yield, the extent of reactor auto-thermal performance, the CO2 emission, hot spot formation, and the fixed and operating costs were studied. Finally the structure of the selected integrated process was reported which resulted in 35% C-2 yield, 40% auto-thermal behaviour, 60% total methane conversion, 90% CO2 recovery, and lower energy consumption than the classic OCM process and encouraging rate of return of investment. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.