Syngas Explained

Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide,[1] in various ratios. The gas often contains some carbon dioxide and methane. It is principally used for producing ammonia or methanol. Syngas is combustible and can be used as a fuel.[2] [3] [4] Historically, it has been used as a replacement for gasoline, when gasoline supply has been limited; for example, wood gas was used to power cars in Europe during WWII (in Germany alone half a million cars were built or rebuilt to run on wood gas).[5]

Production

Syngas is produced by steam reforming or partial oxidation of natural gas or liquid hydrocarbons, or coal gasification.[6]

Steam reforming of methane is an endothermic reaction requiring 206 kJ/mol of methane:

In principle, but rarely in practice, biomass and related hydrocarbon feedstocks could be used to generate biogas and biochar in waste-to-energy gasification facilities.[7] The gas generated (mostly methane and carbon dioxide) is sometimes described as syngas but its composition differs from syngas. Generation of conventional syngas (mostly H2 and CO) from waste biomass has been explored.[8] [9]

Composition, pathway for formation, and thermochemistry

The chemical composition of syngas varies based on the raw materials and the processes. Syngas produced by coal gasification generally is a mixture of 30 to 60% carbon monoxide, 25 to 30% hydrogen, 5 to 15% carbon dioxide, and 0 to 5% methane. It also contains lesser amount of other gases.[10] Syngas has less than half the energy density of natural gas.[11]

The first reaction, between incandescent coke and steam, is strongly endothermic, producing carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen (water gas in older terminology). When the coke bed has cooled to a temperature at which the endothermic reaction can no longer proceed, the steam is then replaced by a blast of air.

The second and third reactions then take place, producing an exothermic reaction—forming initially carbon dioxide and raising the temperature of the coke bed—followed by the second endothermic reaction, in which the latter is converted to carbon monoxide. The overall reaction is exothermic, forming "producer gas" (older terminology). Steam can then be re-injected, then air etc., to give an endless series of cycles until the coke is finally consumed. Producer gas has a much lower energy value, relative to water gas, due primarily to dilution with atmospheric nitrogen. Pure oxygen can be substituted for air to avoid the dilution effect, producing gas of much higher calorific value. In order to produce more hydrogen from this mixture, more steam is added and the water gas shift reaction is carried out:

The hydrogen can be separated from the by pressure swing adsorption (PSA), amine scrubbing, and membrane reactors. A variety of alternative technologies have been investigated, but none are of commercial value.[12] Some variations focus on new stoichiometries such as carbon dioxide plus methane[13] [14] or partial hydrogenation of carbon dioxide. Other research focuses on novel energy sources to drive the processes including electrolysis, solar energy, microwaves, and electric arcs.[15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Electricity generated from renewable sources is also used to process carbon dioxide and water into syngas through high-temperature electrolysis. This is an attempt to maintain carbon neutrality in the generation process. Audi, in partnership with company named Sunfire, opened a pilot plant in November 2014 to generate e-diesel using this process.[21]

Syngas that is not methanized typically has a lower heating value of 120 BTU/scf .[22] Untreated syngas can be run in hybrid turbines that allow for greater efficiency because of their lower operating temperatures, and extended part lifetime.

Uses

Syngas is used as a source of hydrogen as well as a fuel.[12] It is also used to directly reduce iron ore to sponge iron.[23] Chemical uses include the production of methanol which is a precursor to acetic acid and many acetates; liquid fuels and lubricants via the Fischer–Tropsch process and previously the Mobil methanol to gasoline process; ammonia via the Haber process, which converts atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia which is used as a fertilizer; and oxo alcohols via an intermediate aldehyde.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Speight, James G. . Chemical and process design handbook . 2002 . McGraw-Hill . 978-0-07-137433-0 . McGraw-Hill handbooks . New York, NY . 566.
  2. Web site: Syngas Cogeneration / Combined Heat & Power. Clarke Energy. 22 February 2016. 27 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120827024737/http://www.clarke-energy.com/gas-type/synthesis-gas-syngas/. live.
  3. Web site: Why Let it go to Waste? Enerkem Leaps Ahead With Trash-to-Gas Plans. Jason. Mick. 3 March 2010. DailyTech. 22 February 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054919/http://www.dailytech.com/Why+Let+it+go+to+Waste++Enerkem+Leaps+Ahead+With+TrashtoGas+Plans/article17817.htm. 4 March 2016.
  4. Boehman . André L. . Le Corre . Olivier . Combustion of Syngas in Internal Combustion Engines . Combustion Science and Technology . 15 May 2008 . 180 . 6 . 1193–1206 . 10.1080/00102200801963417 . 94791479 .
  5. Web site: Wood gas vehicles: firewood in the fuel tank. LOW-TECH MAGAZINE. 2019-06-13. 2010-01-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20100121081440/https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2010/01/wood-gas-cars.html. live.
  6. Beychok . Milton R. . Coal gasification and the Phenosolvan process . Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem., Prepr.; (United States) . 1974 . 19 . 5 . 7362109 . 93526789 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221005/http://web.anl.gov/PCS/acsfuel/preprint%20archive/Files/19_5_ATLANTIC%20CITY_09-74_0085.pdf . 3 March 2016 .
  7. Web site: Sewage treatment plant smells success in synthetic gas trial - ARENAWIRE. 2021-01-25. Australian Renewable Energy Agency. 11 September 2019 . en-AU. 2021-03-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20210307141645/https://arena.gov.au/blog/logan-gasification-sewage-treatment-plant/. live.
  8. Zhang . Lu . etal . Clean synthesis gas production from municipal solid waste via catalytic gasification and reforming technology . Catalysis Today . 318 . 2018 . 0920-5861 . 10.1016/j.cattod.2018.02.050 . 39–45. 102872424 .
  9. Sasidhar . Nallapaneni . November 2023 . Carbon Neutral Fuels and Chemicals from Standalone Biomass Refineries . 29 December 2023 . Indian Journal of Environment Engineering . 2582-9289 . 3 . 2. 1–8 . 10.54105/ijee.B1845.113223 . 265385618.
  10. Web site: Syngas composition. National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy. 7 May 2015. 27 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200327190358/http://www.netl.doe.gov/research/coal/energy-systems/gasification/gasifipedia/syngas-composition. live.
  11. Book: Beychok . M R . Process and environmental technology for producing SNG and liquid fuels . 1975 . Environmental Protection Agency . 4435004117 . 5364207 .
  12. Book: 10.1002/14356007.a12_169.pub3. Gas Production, 1. Introduction . Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry . 2011 . Hiller . Heinz . Reimert . Rainer . Stönner . Hans-Martin . 978-3527306732 .
  13. Web site: dieBrennstoffzelle.de - Kvaerner-Verfahren. www.diebrennstoffzelle.de. 2019-12-17. 2019-12-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20191207063249/http://www.diebrennstoffzelle.de/wasserstoff/herstellung/kvaerner.shtml. live.
  14. EU . 3160899B1 . patent . Method and apparatus for producing h2-rich synthesis gas . 12 December 2018 . Kühl . Olaf .
  15. Web site: Sunshine to Petrol. Sandia National Laboratories. April 11, 2013. February 19, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130219194404/http://energy.sandia.gov/wp/wp-content/gallery/uploads/S2P_SAND2009-5796P.pdf. dead.
  16. Web site: Integrated Solar Thermochemical Reaction System. U.S. Department of Energy. April 11, 2013. August 19, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130819063840/http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/csp_sunshotrnd_pnnl.html. live.
  17. News: New Solar Process Gets More Out of Natural Gas. April 11, 2013. The New York Times. April 10, 2013. Matthew L. Wald. November 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130012407/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/11/business/energy-environment/new-solar-process-gets-more-out-of-natural-gas.html. live.
  18. Web site: A solar booster shot for natural gas power plants. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. April 12, 2013. Frances White. April 14, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130414234802/http://www.pnnl.gov/news/release.aspx?id=981. live.
  19. Foit . Severin R. . Vinke . Izaak C. . de Haart . Lambertus G. J. . Eichel . Rüdiger-A. . Power-to-Syngas: An Enabling Technology for the Transition of the Energy System? . Angewandte Chemie International Edition . 8 May 2017 . 56 . 20 . 5402–5411 . 10.1002/anie.201607552 . 27714905 .
  20. US . 5159900A . patent . Method and means of generating gas from water for use as a fuel . 3 November 1992 . Dammann . Wilbur A. .
  21. News: Audi in new e-fuels project: synthetic diesel from water, air-captured CO2 and green electricity; "Blue Crude". 29 April 2015. Green Car Congress.. 14 November 2014. 27 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200327190343/https://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/11/20141114-audibluecrude.html. live.
  22. Oluyede . Emmanuel O. . Phillips . Jeffrey N. . Volume 3: Turbo Expo 2007 . Fundamental Impact of Firing Syngas in Gas Turbines . Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2007: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. Volume 3: Turbo Expo 2007 . Montreal, Canada . May 2007 . 175–182 . ASME . 10.1115/GT2007-27385 . 978-0-7918-4792-3 . 10.1.1.205.6065 .
  23. Book: Chatterjee . Amit . Sponge iron production by direct reduction of iron oxide . 2012 . PHI Learning . 978-81-203-4659-8 . 1075942093 .

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