Technology | Advantages | Disadvantages | Developers/Licensors |
POX | Feed stock desulfurization not required | Very high process operating temperature Usually requires oxygen plant | Texaco Inc. and Royal Dutch/Shell |
SMR | Most extensive industrial experience Oxygen not required, lowest process operating temperature Best H2/CO ratio for production of liquid fuels. | Highest air emissions More costly than POX and auto-thermal reformers Recycling of CO and removal of the excess hydrogen by means of membranes | Haldor Topsoe AS, Foster Wheeler Corp, Lurgi AG, International BV, Kinetics Technology and Uhde GmbH |
ATR | Lowest process temperature requirement than POX. Syngas methane content can be tailored by adjusting reformer outlet temperature | Limited commercial experience Usually requires oxygen plant | Lurgi, Haldor Topsoe |
DMR | Green house gas CO2 can be consumed instead of releasing into atmosphere Almost 100% of CO2 conversion | Formation of coke on catalyst. Additional heat is required as the reaction takes place at 873 K | Carbon Sciences |
CSDR | Best H2/CO ratio for production of liquid fuels Coke deposition drastically reduced. | Separation of un-reacted methane from SMR syngas. Project installation cost. | Midrex Process |
TMR | Directly using flue gases, rather than pre separated and purified CO2 from flue gases. Over 95% of methane and 80% CO2 conversion can be achieved | Usually requires oxygen plant. Low H2/CO ratio ratios limit its large-scale application for F-T & MeOH synthesis | Haldor Topsoe AS |