Process Synthane

The Synthane gasifier itself is a vertical, cylindrical, fluidized-bed reactor which operates at approximately 100 psi and up to 980°C (1800°F). 

The product gas, containing methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and ethane, is passed through a Venturi scrubber and a water scrubber to remove carryover ash, char, and tars. Acid gas impurities are absorbed in a hot potassium carbonate scrubber and any remaining traces of sulfur in the product gas are removed by passing the gas through activated charcoal. 

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See, for example, the Lummus Corporation s 1977 technical and economic evaluation of the Synthane Process. This study was commissioned by the US Dept, of Energy. 

Pilot plant and demonstration plant scale projects include the SYNTHANE process, the Hygas process, and the Bigas process among others. See W. P. Haynes and A. J. Forney, High BTU Gas from Coal Status and Prospects, Tech. Rep. PERC/IC-76-1. U.S.E.R. D.A. Office of Public Affairs, 1976. 

Figure 10 shows the flows of exergy between the major groups of equipment in the Synthane process. Also shown is the consumption in each group and its efficiency. Furthermore, unit costs of exergy are shown in parentheses. A notable feature of the SYNTHANE process is that more electric power is produced from the gasifier by-product char than is consumed by the process itself hence the excess is available for "export" from the plant. 

Evidently, the design philosophy that was adopted for the conceptual design of the Synthane process was this Inasmuch as "unlimited" amounts of char are available — as an inherent byproduct of the Synthane gasifier and therefore at "no cost" —the... 

Figure 10. Exergy flows and unit costs for SYNTHANE process.

Gaggioli, R.A., Wepfer, W.J. and Rodriguez S.J., L. "A Thermodynamic - Economic Analysis of the Synthane Process", Report to Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, November... 

Gaggioli, R., "A Thermodynamic-Economic Analysis of the Synthane Process", Final Report for US DoE, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Nov. 1978... 

Gaggioli, R. A., Roddriquez, L. S. J., and Wepfer, W. J., "Thermodynamic-Economic Analysis of the Synthane Process Using Available Energy Concepts," NTIS PC A06/MF A01, National Technical Information Service, Nov. (1978). 

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