The CO content in the process gas at the outlet of the transformation section in our plant is on the high side. What are the possible causes, and how should it be addressed?
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1. The CO content in the process gas at the outlet of the transformation section in our plant is on the high side. What are the possible reasons, and how should it be addressed?
The carbon monoxide concentration at the outlet of the reformer is high. This can be attributed to several factors: firstly, the space velocity is too high, so the carbon monoxide is carried away before it has time to react; secondly, there are changes in the concentration of the reacting substances, that is, the water vapor-to-gas ratio – with less water vapor present, the carbon monoxide fails to complete its reaction. Third is the reduction in the catalyst’s surface area, which leads to caking. This results in a small surface area in contact with the carbon monoxide, leading to no reaction. Fourth, from the perspective of reaction kinetics, high product concentrations inhibit the reaction. Fifth, from the standpoint of reaction thermodynamics, increasing the temperature facilitates the formation of products.