Convert Methane to CO2
Convert Methane to CO2
(OP)
I have quite a bit of methane I'd like to convert to CO2, water or something else that's not readily combustible. I'd prefer to not have to burn the methane, though I realize combustion is the obvious answer. A flare is just not practical in the location where the methane is generated. Disposing of heat generated through some other reaction would be possible. Catalysts have been suggested, but being a Mechanical Engineer I have little knowledge of such things, though from what I can see they seem to be made of expensive sounding elements. Also residence times would need to be short (why? I'm not sure, but long residence times also sound expensive). I was wondering about reacting with ozone, or some process involving UV. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
JL
JL





RE: Convert Methane to CO2
You need either a flare or a thermal oxidizer, or to send the methane to somebody who will use it.
Catalysts are unnecessary. Methane burns just fine without a catalyst. Any hot surface will keep it lit, and it burns quite efficiently all the way to CO2 unless you try to starve it of oxygen.
RE: Convert Methane to CO2
JL
RE: Convert Methane to CO2
If you have a lot and it's clean maybe you can give it to the local gas company. You could also vent it without burning as long as you take care to disperse it. I know that new gas lines in power plants are blown-down to atmosphere to remove debris. There have been accidents in doing so.
RE: Convert Methane to CO2
You can manage the heat with excess air.
RE: Convert Methane to CO2
It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.
RE: Convert Methane to CO2