Synergistic Induction Heating in a Fluidized Bed for Dry Reforming of Methane: A Pathway to Enhanced CO2 Utilization

This study pioneers the application of an induction heating fluidized bed (IH-FB) to dry methane reforming (DRM), establishing an efficient novel process for CO2 utilization. Synergistic induction heating is achieved by utilizing eddy-current loss heating in a carbon steel rod for indirect heat transfer to particles and gases, coupled with hysteresis loss heating in magnetic Ni- and Co-based catalyst bed materials for direct induction heating. The system achieved an overall bed heating rate of 200 °C/min under fluidized conditions. DRM tests show that the IH-FB initiates catalytic reactions at a relatively low temperature of 400 °C, converting CH4 and CO2 into syngas (CO and H2). Co-based catalysts exhibited higher feedstock conversion and enhanced stability compared to Ni-based catalysts owing to their greater hysteresis heating capacity and broader ferromagnetic temperature range, achieving 89.69% CH4 and 83.37% CO2 conversions at 700 °C. Throughout the tested temperature range (400–700 °C), the IH-FB outperformed the resistance heating fluidized bed (RH-FB) in feedstock conversion, primarily due to its rapid thermal response, particle self-heating, and enhanced heat and mass transfer advantages from fluidization. At equivalent target conversion rates, the IH-FB significantly reduced the operating temperature compared to the RH-FB, demonstrating superior energy-saving benefits. This study demonstrated a promising route for efficient CO2 utilization via DRM.