Synthesis of Methanol From a Chemical Looping Syngas for the Decarbonization of the Power Sector

Abstract

One promising pathway for carbon capture and utilization is represented by the coupling of chemical looping cycles with liquid fuel synthesis processes. Methanol is an interesting fuel for gas turbines, due to its potential reduction of NOX and particulate emissions along with the absence of SO2 emissions. In this work, methanol production from the syngas generated by a three-reactors chemical looping process is investigated by mass and energy balances. The cycle is composed by a reducer reactor, where Fe2O3 is reduced to FeO by a reducing agent; an oxidizer reactor, where FeO reacts with CO2 and H2O to produce a syngas; an air reactor, where Fe3O4 is regenerated to Fe2O3 by air. The produced syngas is then sent to a methanol synthesis plant. Several syngas compositions from different CO2/H2O molar fractions (1-3) at the oxidizer inlet are taken into account. The resulting methanol flow rates are almost equal in all investigated configurations (about 0.35 t/h). From an energy standpoint, the required electric power is greater for higher hydrogen mole fractions in the syngas. However, the case with 75% H2 content is characterized by the greatest methanol yield (12.6%), carbon efficiency (23%) and the lowest feed/recirculation ratio, thus representing the most indicated configuration among the investigated ones. Finally, by burning methanol in a gas turbine, the total CO2 emissions are halved with respect to the case without the system (if the CO2 associated with biogenic carbon in the reducer is considered as net-zero).

Decarbonization of methanol production - Techno-economic analysis of Power-to-Fuel process in a Hydrogen Valley

“…In addition, it can also be used as a green fuel instead of gasoline in the transport sector and, in the industrial sector, as a raw material for synthetic process of many valuable chemicals (dimethylether, formaldehyde, biodiesel, etc.) [10]. Therefore, the use of green methanol can contribute to the hard-to-abate sector greening.…”

Assessment of Innovative Graphene Oxide Composite Membranes for the Improvement of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Performance

“…The use of DMFC has several advantages if compared with Hydrogen FC: easy fuel storage and management, lower cost of methanol, operation at low temperature and pressure, small system size and low weight [2]. Furthermore, methanol is considered as a very convenient and sustainable alternative fuel as it can be produced by using green hydrogen, CO, and CO 2 through the implementation of CCU (carbon capture and utilization) strategies [3]. DMFC can be advantageously used for mobile and portable applications due to the mix of good efficiency as well as weight, and volume energy densities [2].…”