Advanced Rectisol wash equipment incorporating syngas liquefaction and methane recovery for enhanced energy management

Abstract

The efficient removal of acid gases is crucial for the advancement of carbon capture, storage and utilization. However, the inherently high energy consumption restricts the improvement of overall energy efficiency. This research focused on syngas treatment obtained from a fixed-bed coal gasifier, aiming to identify the significant energy management potential. It was found that multi-step decarbonization could be achieved through syngas liquefaction and absorption, while the challenge is to explore appropriate strategies to strengthen energy management. Therefore, an advanced Rectisol wash equipment was proposed, maintaining the original methanol flowrate to avoid technical risks associated with parameter alterations. The proposed equipment was seamlessly integrated with syngas liquefaction system and methane recovery system. Specifically, methane recovery equipment was equipped to address the issue of methane loss during the liquefaction process. The results showed that the advanced Rectisol wash equipment leads to a substantial 10.0 % reduction in standard energy consumption and 9.0 % in indirect carbon emissions. Economic analysis revealed that the innovative equipment decreases the total operating cost by 6.8 %. This research offers an environmentally sustainable and economically affordable approach to syngas decarbonization, contributing to the prompt achievement of carbon neutrality goals.