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Syngas

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Not to be confused with synthetic gasoline.
Wood gas, a type of syngas, burning

Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a fuel gas mixture consisting primarily of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and very often some carbon dioxide. The name comes from its use as intermediates in creating synthetic natural gas (SNG)[1] and for producing ammonia or methanol. Syngas is combustible and can be used as a fuel of internal combustion engines.[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] However, it has less than half the energy density of natural gas.[1]

Syngas can be produced from many sources, including natural gas, coal, biomass, or virtually any hydrocarbon feedstock, by reaction with steam (steam reforming), carbon dioxide (dry reforming) or oxygen (partial oxidation). It is a crucial intermediate resource for production of hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and synthetic hydrocarbon fuels. It is also used as an intermediate in producing synthetic petroleum for use as a fuel or lubricant via the Fischer–Tropsch process and previously the Mobil methanol to gasoline process.

Production methods include steam reforming of natural gas or liquid hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen, the gasification of coal,[6] biomass, and in some types of waste-to-energy gasification facilities.

Production

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.[7]

The main reaction that produces syngas, steam reforming, is an endothermic reaction with 206 kJ/mol methane needed for conversion.

The first reaction, between incandescent coke and steam, is strongly endothermic, producing carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen H
2 (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, CO. 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.

When used as an intermediate in the large-scale, industrial synthesis of hydrogen (principally used in the production of ammonia), it is also produced from natural gas (via the steam reforming reaction) as follows:

In order to produce more hydrogen from this mixture, more steam is added and the water gas shift reaction is carried out:

The hydrogen must be separated from the CO2 to be able to use it. This is primarily done by pressure swing adsorption (PSA), amine scrubbing, and membrane reactors.

A variety of alternative technologies have been investigated, but none are of commercial value.[8] Some variations focus on new stoichiometries such as carbon dioxide plus methane[9][10] 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.[11][12][13][14][15][16] Some of the Carbon gets turned into carbon nanotubes[17] Syngas in principle can be produced from many kinds of wastes.[18][19] As an example Logan City Council, Australia, will use a waste gasification process to dramatically shrink the volume of waste needing to be trucked off site and produce syngas to power the facility. Once wastewater is treated to kill off harmful pathogens and bacteria, the remaining biosolids will be heated to high temperatures to produce a syngas mixture made up of mostly hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and carbon dioxide.[20] The syngas produced in waste-to-energy gasification facilities can be used e.g. to generate electricity.

Uses

Syngas is used as a fuel and as a source of hydrogen[8] Use of electricity to extract carbon dioxide from water and then water gas shift to syngas has been trialled by the US Naval Research Lab.[citation needed] This process becomes cost effective if the price of electricity is below $20/MWh.[21][irrelevant citation]

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.[22]

Syngas that is not methanized typically has a lower heating value of 120 BTU/scf .[23] Untreated syngas can be run in hybrid turbines that allow for greater efficiency because of their lower operating temperatures, and extended part lifetime.[23]

Sponge iron

Syngas is used to directly reduce iron ore to sponge iron.[24]

Methanol and other liquid fuels

Syngas is used to produce methanol. Methanol is a precursor to acetic acid and many acetates. Many liquid fuels can be produced from syngas. Syngas can be used in the Fischer–Tropsch process to produce diesel fuel, or converted into e.g. methane, methanol, and dimethyl ether in catalytic processes.

Ammonia synthesis

Syngas is used to produce hydrogen for the Haber process, which converts atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia, which is used as a fertilizer.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Beychok, M R (1975). Process and environmental technology for producing SNG and liquid fuels. Environmental Protection Agency. OCLC 4435004117. OSTI 5364207.[page needed]
  2. ^ "Syngas Cogeneration / Combined Heat & Power". Clarke Energy. Archived from the original on 27 August 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  3. ^ Mick, Jason (3 March 2010). "Why Let it go to Waste? Enerkem Leaps Ahead With Trash-to-Gas Plans". DailyTech. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  4. ^ Boehman, André L.; Le Corre, Olivier (15 May 2008). "Combustion of Syngas in Internal Combustion Engines". Combustion Science and Technology. 180 (6): 1193–1206. doi:10.1080/00102200801963417. S2CID 94791479.
  5. ^ "Wood gas vehicles: firewood in the fuel tank". LOW-TECH MAGAZINE. Archived from the original on 2010-01-21. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
  6. ^ Beychok, Milton R. (1974). "Coal gasification and the Phenosolvan process" (PDF). Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem., Prepr.; (United States). 19:5. OSTI 7362109. S2CID 93526789. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Syngas composition". National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  8. ^ a b Hiller, Heinz; Reimert, Rainer; Stönner, Hans-Martin (2011). "Gas Production, 1. Introduction". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a12_169.pub3. ISBN 978-3527306732.
  9. ^ "dieBrennstoffzelle.de - Kvaerner-Verfahren". www.diebrennstoffzelle.de. Archived from the original on 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  10. ^ EU patent 3160899B1, Kühl, Olaf, "Method and apparatus for producing h2-rich synthesis gas", issued 12 December 2018 
  11. ^ "Sunshine to Petrol" (PDF). Sandia National Laboratories. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  12. ^ "Integrated Solar Thermochemical Reaction System". U.S. Department of Energy. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  13. ^ Matthew L. Wald (April 10, 2013). "New Solar Process Gets More Out of Natural Gas". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  14. ^ Frances White. "A solar booster shot for natural gas power plants". Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  15. ^ Foit, Severin R.; Vinke, Izaak C.; de Haart, Lambertus G. J.; Eichel, Rüdiger-A. (8 May 2017). "Power-to-Syngas: An Enabling Technology for the Transition of the Energy System?". Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 56 (20): 5402–5411. doi:10.1002/anie.201607552. PMID 27714905.
  16. ^ US patent 5159900A, Dammann, Wilbur A., "Method and means of generating gas from water for use as a fuel", issued 3 November 1992 
  17. ^ Kim, Yongil; Nishikawa, Eiichi; Kioka, Toshihide (2009). "An underwater arc discharge method of CNT production using carbon electrode physical vibration". Journal of Plasma and Fusion. 8. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.361.5540. S2CID 133690319.
  18. ^ US patent 5311830A, Kiss, Gunter H., "Method of energetic and material utilization of waste goods of all kind and device for implementing said method", issued 17 May 1994 
  19. ^ US patent 5980858A, Fujimura, Hiroyuki; Hirayama, Yoshio & Fujinami, Shosaku et al., "Method for treating wastes by gasification", issued 9 November 1999 
  20. ^ "Sewage treatment plant smells success in synthetic gas trial - ARENAWIRE". Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Archived from the original on 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  21. ^ Patel, Prachi. "A Cheap Trick Enables Energy-Efficient Carbon Capture". technologyreview.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Audi in new e-fuels project: synthetic diesel from water, air-captured CO2 and green electricity; "Blue Crude"". Green Car Congress. 14 November 2014. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  23. ^ a b Oluyede, Emmanuel O.; Phillips, Jeffrey N. (May 2007). "Fundamental Impact of Firing Syngas in Gas Turbines". Volume 3: Turbo Expo 2007. Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2007: Power for Land, Sea, and Air. Volume 3: Turbo Expo 2007. Montreal, Canada: ASME. pp. 175–182. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.205.6065. doi:10.1115/GT2007-27385. ISBN 978-0-7918-4792-3.
  24. ^ Chatterjee, Amit (2012). Sponge iron production by direct reduction of iron oxide. PHI Learning. ISBN 978-81-203-4659-8. OCLC 1075942093.[page needed]
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