Experimental study on non-catalytic partial oxidation of methane to acetylene and syngas

The non-catalytic partial oxidation of methane under fuel-rich conditions was studied in a nozzle type reactor. The influences of preheating temperature, molar ratio of oxygen to CH₄ and ethane and propane addition on the process were studied. The axial concentration profiles of species were measured with a mass spectrometer using a sampling probe that could be moved along the length of the reactor. The molar fraction of acetylene had a maximum value along axial distance, and increasing oxygen ratio led to decreasing of acetylene selectivity. Increasing the preheating temperature is favorable to acetylene production and the concentration of acetylene Was 4.52% when preheating temperature reached 620°C. Addition of ethane and propane resulted in the same amount of acetylene with less methane consumption. In the experimental conditions the axial distance of maximum acetylene molar fraction was kept in 80 mm unchanged.