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IGCC process with combined methanol synthesis/water gas shift for methanol and electrical power production

  • US 4,946,477 A
  • Filed: 04/07/1988
  • Issued: 08/07/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) electric power plant process wherein the IGCC process converts hydrocarbon fuels in a gasifier producing a carbon monoxide-rich synthesis gas, which in turn is combusted in a gas turbine to produce power;

  • wherein the IGCC process also includes a provision for production of methanol from the carbon monoxide-rich synthesis gas prior to combustion; and

    wherein methanol is produced by reacting at least a portion of the carbon monoxide-rich synthesis gas in the presence of a methanol synthesis catalyst;

    the improvement for increasing methanol productivity which comprises combining water/gas shift and methanol synthesis reactions in a single step by reacting the portion of the carbon monoxide-rich synthesis gas with water in the presence of a catalyst in a liquid-phase reactor thereby producing both a crude methanol product and a reduced carbon monoxide content and increased hydrogen and carbon dioxide content synthesis gas for combustion; and

    processing a first portion of the reduced carbon monoxide content and increased hydrogen and carbon dioxide content synthesis gas to separate the reduced carbon monoxide content and increased hydrogen and carbon dioxide content synthesis gas into a hydrogen-rich component and a carbon monoxide-rich component, both components comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, combining the hydrogen-rich component and a second portion of the reduced carbon monoxide content and increased hydrogen and carbon dioxide content synthesis gas to form a gas-phase methanol reactor feed stream, reacting the gas-phase methanol reactor feed stream in a gas-phase reactor to produce methanol, and combining the unconverted effluent from the gas-phase methanol reactor with the carbon monoxide-rich component to form a gas turbine combustion feed.

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