Hydromethanation of a carbonaceous feedstock
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process for generating a sweetened gas stream from a non-gaseous carbonaceous material, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a carbonaceous feedstock from the non-gaseous carbonaceous material;
(b) introducing the carbonaceous feedstock and a hydromethanation catalyst into a hydromethanation reactor;
(c) reacting the carbonaceous feedstock in the hydromethanation reactor at a first pressure condition in the presence of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, steam and hydromethanation catalyst to produce a methane-enriched raw product gas and a solid by-product char;
(d) withdrawing a methane-enriched raw product gas stream of the methane-enriched raw product gas from the hydromethanation reactor, wherein the methane-enriched raw product gas stream comprises methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, steam and heat energy;
(e) introducing the methane-enriched raw product stream is introduced into a first heat exchanger unit to recover heat energy and generate a cooled methane-enriched raw product stream;
(f) optionally steam shifting at least a portion of the carbon monoxide in the cooled methane-enriched raw product stream to generate a hydrogen-enriched raw product stream;
(g) dehydrating the cooled methane-enriched raw product stream, or if present the hydrogen-enriched raw product stream, to generate a substantially dehydrated raw product stream;
(h) compressing the dehydrated raw product stream to a second pressure condition to generate a compressed dehydrated raw product stream, wherein the second pressure condition is higher than the first pressure condition; and
(i) removing a substantial portion of the carbon dioxide and a substantial portion of the hydrogen sulfide from the compressed dehydrated raw product stream to produce the sweetened gas stream, wherein the sweetened gas stream comprises a substantial portion of the hydrogen, carbon monoxide (if present in the compressed dehydrated raw product stream) and methane from the compressed dehydrated raw product stream.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to processes for hydromethanating a carbonaceous feedstock to an acid gas-depleted methane-enriched synthesis gas, with improved efficiency of the acid gas removal treatment.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A process for generating a sweetened gas stream from a non-gaseous carbonaceous material, the process comprising the steps of:
-
(a) preparing a carbonaceous feedstock from the non-gaseous carbonaceous material; (b) introducing the carbonaceous feedstock and a hydromethanation catalyst into a hydromethanation reactor; (c) reacting the carbonaceous feedstock in the hydromethanation reactor at a first pressure condition in the presence of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, steam and hydromethanation catalyst to produce a methane-enriched raw product gas and a solid by-product char; (d) withdrawing a methane-enriched raw product gas stream of the methane-enriched raw product gas from the hydromethanation reactor, wherein the methane-enriched raw product gas stream comprises methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, steam and heat energy; (e) introducing the methane-enriched raw product stream is introduced into a first heat exchanger unit to recover heat energy and generate a cooled methane-enriched raw product stream; (f) optionally steam shifting at least a portion of the carbon monoxide in the cooled methane-enriched raw product stream to generate a hydrogen-enriched raw product stream; (g) dehydrating the cooled methane-enriched raw product stream, or if present the hydrogen-enriched raw product stream, to generate a substantially dehydrated raw product stream; (h) compressing the dehydrated raw product stream to a second pressure condition to generate a compressed dehydrated raw product stream, wherein the second pressure condition is higher than the first pressure condition; and (i) removing a substantial portion of the carbon dioxide and a substantial portion of the hydrogen sulfide from the compressed dehydrated raw product stream to produce the sweetened gas stream, wherein the sweetened gas stream comprises a substantial portion of the hydrogen, carbon monoxide (if present in the compressed dehydrated raw product stream) and methane from the compressed dehydrated raw product stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification