High Efficiency Co-production of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) and Fischer−Tropsch (FT) Transportation Fuels from Biomass

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 591-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin W. R. Zwart ◽  
Harold Boerrigter
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Fischer Tropsch ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Synthetic Natural Gas

Energy and Exergy Analysis of Gasifier-Based Coal-to-Fuel Systems

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunhua Zhu ◽  
Sriram Somasundaram ◽  
James W. Kemp
Keyword(s):  
Exergy Analysis ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Second Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Conservation Of Energy ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Synthetic Natural Gas ◽  
Entrained Flow ◽  
Technology Improvement ◽  
Entrained Flow Gasifier ◽  
Construction Operation

National energy security concerns related to liquid transportation fuels have revived interests in alternative liquid fuel sources. Coal-to-fuel technologies feature high efficiency energy conversion and environmental advantages. While a number of factors are driving coal-to-fuel projects forward, there are several barriers to wide commercialization of these technologies such as financial, construction, operation, and technical risks. The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance features of coal-to-fuel systems based on different gasification technologies. The target products are the Fischer–Tropsch synthetic crude and synthetic natural gas. Two types of entrained-flow gasifier-based coal-to-fuel systems are simulated and their performance features are discussed. One is a single-stage water quench cooling entrained-flow gasifier, and another one is a two-stage syngas cooling entrained-flow gasifier. The conservation of energy (first law of thermodynamics) and the quality of energy (second law of thermodynamics) for the systems are both investigated. The results of exergy analysis provide insights about the potential targets for technology improvement. The features of different gasifier-based coal-to-fuel systems are discussed. The results provide information about the research and development priorities in future.

Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

2020 ◽  
pp. 447-488
Author(s):  
Paul F. Meier
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Liquefied Natural Gas ◽  
Tropsch Synthesis ◽  
Polymerization Reaction ◽  
Catalytic Polymerization ◽  
World War ◽  
Fischer Tropsch ◽  
Fischer Tropsch Synthesis ◽  
Transportation Fuels

The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a catalytic polymerization reaction that can be used to make transportation fuels, primarily gasoline and diesel. The process was invented in 1925 and used commercially by Nazi Germany in World War II as well as South Africa, starting in the 1950s. Initially, the fuel of choice to start the process was coal, but recently there has been increased interest in natural gas and biomass. The interest in natural gas is of most interest, as it provides an option for taking stranded natural gas and converting it into a liquid. This avoids the need for pipeline or liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport, which may be difficult to implement due to both geography and geopolitical reasons. The levelized cost of producing gasoline and diesel through this process is competitive with refining, but new commercial implementation has been hindered by the high capital cost of building the plant.

Microwave Plasma Gasification for Enhanced Oil Recovery and Sustainable Waste Management

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip K. Panicker ◽  
Amani Magid
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Wells ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Fischer Tropsch ◽  
Plasma Gasification ◽  
Synthetic Natural Gas ◽  
Oil Companies

This paper presents qualitative evidence to support the application of microwave induced plasma gasification (MIPG) technology for converting municipal solid wastes (MSW) to syngas and to use it for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The target for the case study of this paper is the United Arab Emirates, which is a major producer and exporter of petroleum. The main EOR method employed by the UAE’s oil companies is the miscible gas flooding method, whereby natural gas or carbon dioxide is injected into the oil reservoirs to boost the oil pressure, reduce the viscosity of the oil and to increase the pumping rates. UAE purchases natural gas for power production and EOR from its neighbor, Qatar, which makes the UAE a net importer of natural gas and a major consumer of energy, while reducing the national income from the oil sales. The UAE is looking at ways to boost its oil production and to reduce the usage of natural gas, including the injection of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and steam generated by concentrated solar power. UAE and the other Arabian Gulf nations have some of the highest per capita rates of production of domestic waste. Landfilling is the prevalent form of waste disposal for industrial, commercial and residential waste. Incineration-type waste-to-energy power plants are being constructed, but they are not the most effective solution due to cost and environmental reasons. This paper proposes a solution that covers the two problems with one technology, namely MIPG of MSW. MIPG is shown to be the most efficient method of gasification available, as it uses much less energy for producing and sustaining the plasma than other techniques, and produces a much cleaner syngas than thermochemical gasification schemes. The syngas can be used for electricity generation or for making fuels and raw materials in the Fischer-Tropsch or similar processes. In this proposal, MIPG will be used to turn MSW, sewage sludge and biomass wastes into syngas. A part of the syngas will be used to produce electricity to power the petroleum extraction processes, while the carbon dioxide formed in this combustion of syngas can be captured and used for EOR in deep oil wells, which also functions as a form of sequestration of carbon. In addition, syngas can be turned into methane and synthetic natural gas using the Fischer-Tropsch or Sabatier process and then pumped into the oil wells. Some of the petroleum extracted can also be gasified using the MIPG method for the production of synthetic natural gas. Thus, the dependence on natural gas imports will be eliminated, while also achieving zero landfill targets.

CONVERSION OF GAS TO TRANSPORTATION FUELS

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
W.R. Partridge
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Fischer Tropsch ◽  
Heating Value ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Technical And Economic Analysis ◽  
Widespread Interest

There is a widespread interest in the utilisation of the world's gas reserves, a considerable volume of which are located in remote areas and cannot be transported economically by pipeline. In addition the traditional market for such gas has been liquefied natural gas, but currently the market appears to be saturated. Consequently Bechtel Petroleum Inc. made a technical and economic analysis of processes which could be used to convert natural gas to transportation fuels. It was found that there is a number of new technologies which could be considered commercial and a considerable number that look promising but are not yet commercial.This paper presents the results of the economic analysis of the following five commercial or near commercial processes.Natural gas to methanol,Natural gas to methanol and gasoline,Natural gas to gasoline and diesel via the Fischer Tropsch process,Natural gas to gasoline and distillate (via extracted liquified petroleum gas), andOlefins direct to gasoline and distillate.For comparison purposes the economics of liquified natural gas were also developed.This comparison indicated that the conversion of olefins to transport fuels has a distinct economic advantage over the others. In addition this process has the flexibility of yielding varying percentages of gasoline and diesel according to market demand whereas some of the processes can produce only a single product. One disadvantage is that the olefins feedstock must be priced on a heating value basis comparable to natural gas and not for its alternative value in the manufacture of petrochemicals. There are situations in the world where refinery and chemical offgases containing olefins in dilute form could be priced competitively with natural gas.The conversion of extracted liquified petroleum gas from natural gas also looks promising, but it must be priced competitively with natural gas.The economic comparison highlighted the need for future basic research into the conversion of natural gas directly to transportation fuels rather than going through intermediate steps. Considerable research is currently being directed to these conversion processes. In addition there is also research being conducted to improve the economics of the commercial Fischer Tropsch conversion process.

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