The engine reformer: Syngas production in an engine for compact gas‐to‐liquids synthesis

Methane (CH₄) reforming was carried out in an internal combustion engine (an “engine reformer”). We successfully produced syngas from the partial oxidation of natural gas in the cylinder of a diesel engine that was reconfigured to perform spark ignition. Performing the reaction in an engine cylinder allows some of the exothermicity to be captured as useful work. Intake conditions of 110 kPa and up to 480 °C allowed low cycle‐to‐cycle variability (COV_nimep < 20 %) at methane‐air equivalence ratios (ϕ_M) of 2.0, producing syngas with an H₂‐to‐CO ratio of 1.4. Spark ignition timing was varied between 45–30° before top‐dead‐center (BTDC) piston position, showing significant improvement with delayed timing. Hydrogen (H₂) and ethane (C₂H₆) were added to simulate recycle from a downstream synthesis reactor and realistic natural gas compositions, respectively. Adding these gases yielded a stable combustion up to hydrocarbon‐air equivalence ratios (ϕ_HC) of 2.8 with COV_nimep < 5 %. Ethane concentrations (with respect to methane) of up to 0.2 L/L (20 vol%) (with and without H₂) produced robust and stable combustions, demonstrating that the engine can be operated across a range of natural gas compositions. Engine exhaust soot concentrations demonstrated elevated values at ϕ_HC > 2.4, but < 1 mg/L below these equivalence ratios. These results demonstrate that the engine reformer could be a key component of a compact gas‐to‐liquids synthesis plant by highlighting the operating conditions under which high gas conversion, high H_2‐to‐CO ratios close to 2.0, and low soot production are possible.