Gasification entrained

Produced from Co l. Estimates of the cost of producing methanol from coal have been made by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) (12,17) and they are more uncertain than those using natural gas. Experience in coal-to-methanol faciUties of the type and size that would offer the most competitive product is limited. The projected costs of coal-derived methanol are considerably higher than those of methanol produced from natural gas. The cost of the production faciUty accounts for most of the increase (11). Coal-derived methanol is not expected to compete with gasoline unless oil prices exceed 0.31/L ( 50/bbl). Successful development of lower cost entrained gasification technologies could reduce the cost so as to make coal-derived methanol competitive at oil prices as low as 0.25/L ( 40/bbl) (17) (see Coal conversion processes). 

The cost of the production facility accounts for most of the increase (11). Coal-derived methanol is not expected to compete with gasoline unless oil prices exceed 0.31/L ( 50/bbl). Successful development of lower cost entrained gasification technologies could reduce the cost so as to make coal-derived methanol competitive at oil prices as low as 0.25/L ( 40/bbl) (17) (see Coal conversion processes). 

Initial results from the PEDU for lignite were reported earlier (2, 8). This paper presents data for the gasification of Pittsburgh seam coal in the PEDU and discusses these data on the basis of the chemistry and physics of entrained gasification. 

Entrained coal gasifiers are typified by the Koppers-Totzek (KT) and Texaco processes. Most of the present coal-based ammonia plants (except in China) use the KT process. The process is essentially a partial oxidation process as are most coal gasification processes. At least two KT ammonia plants have been built to use either coal or heavy oil although only one (in Finland) is known to have used both feedstocks [48]. However, any entrained gasification units presumably could be readily adapted to heavy oil or lighter hydrocarbons including natural gas. 

The gasification plant is equipped with two Texaco gasifiers, each capable of producing all of the synthesis gas required for operation of the complex. Eastman chose an entrained-bed gasification process for the Chemicals from Coal project because of three attractive features. The product gas composition using locally available coal is particularly suitable for production of the desired chemicals. Also, the process has excellent environmental performance and generates no Hquids or tars. EinaHy, the process can be operated at the elevated pressure required for the downstream chemical plants. 

The gas, along with entrained ash and char particles, which are subjected to further gasification in the large space above the fluid bed, exit the gasifier at 954—1010°C. The hot gas is passed through a waste-heat boiler to recover the sensible heat, and then through a dry cyclone. SoHd particles are removed in both units. The gas is further cooled and cleaned by wet scmbbing, and if required, an electrostatic precipitator is included in the gas-treatment stream. 

Sasol Fischer-Tropsch Process. 1-Propanol is one of the products from Sasol s Fischer-Tropsch process (7). Coal (qv) is gasified ia Lurgi reactors to produce synthesis gas (H2/CO). After separation from gas Hquids and purification, the synthesis gas is fed iato the Sasol Synthol plant where it is entrained with a powdered iron-based catalyst within the fluid-bed reactors. The exothermic Fischer-Tropsch reaction produces a mixture of hydrocarbons (qv) and oxygenates. The condensation products from the process consist of hydrocarbon Hquids and an aqueous stream that contains a mixture of ketones (qv) and alcohols. The ketones and alcohols are recovered and most of the alcohols are used for the blending of high octane gasoline. Some of the alcohol streams are further purified by distillation to yield pure 1-propanol and ethanol ia a multiunit plant, which has a total capacity of 25,000-30,000 t/yr (see Coal conversion processes, gasification). 

Dow Goal Gasification Process. The Dow coal gasification process (Destec) is a two-stage, slurry feed, entrained-flow, slagging gasifier. 

Texaco gasification is based on a combination of two process steps, a liquefaction step and an entrained bed gasifier. In the liquefaction step the plastic waste is cracked under relatively mild thermal conditions. This depolymerisation results in a synthetic heavy oil and a gas fraction, which in part is condensable. The noncondensable fraction is used as a fuel in the process. The process is very comparable to the cracking of vacuum residues that originate from oil recycling processes. 

The Texaeo Gasifieation proeess is a eontinuous, entrained flow, pressurised, non-eatalytie partial oxidation process in whieh earbonaeeous solids, liquids or gases reaet with oxygen. Gasification breaks the polymer ehains and eonverts the hydroearbons to their simplest forms. A detailed description is given of the proeess and its eommereial applieation. The proeess is a eommereially... 

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