Thermodynamic equilibrium analysis of the steam methane reforming process to
synthesis gas was studied. For this purpose, the system of chemical
reactions for carbon production and consumation as well as other side
reaction in the steam methane reforming process were analysed. The material
balance and the equations of law mass action were obtained for various
chemical reactions. The system of those equations were solved by dichotomy
method. The investigation was performed for a wide range of operational
conditions such as a temperature, pressure, and inlet steam-to-methane
ratio. The results obtained, with the help of developed algorithms, were
compared with the results obtained via different commercial and open-source
programs. All results are in excellent agreement. The operational conditions
for the probable formation of carbon were determined. It was established
that for the temperature range above 1100K the probability of carbon
formation is absent for steam-to-methane ratio above units. The presented
algorithm of thermodynamic analysis gives an appearance of the dependence of
the product composition and the amount of required heat from operating
conditions such as the temperature, pressure and steam-to-methane ratio.