The Concept of an Energy-Technological Complex for Using Natural Gas in the Production of Electric Power, Heat, and Synthetic Liquid Fuel with Partial Sequestering of Carbon Dioxide Emissions into the Atmosphere

Abstract

The article provides a description and comparative analysis of the original integrated technology for using natural gas with the simultaneous production of energy and synthetic liquid motor fuel and the partial sequestration of carbon dioxide. The installation operates in two main modes: it generates electricity, heat, and methanol during daylight hours. During night hours of the electric load, CO2 is partially extracted from the flue gases using the mastered industrial technology, which is converted in a plasmatron with the addition of natural gas and water vapor into synthesis gas, which is significantly richer in hydrogen and carbon monoxide than daytime gas. The resulting additional synthesis gas is sent to a methanol synthesis catalytic reactor, in which, thanks to the use of richer synthesis gas, the methanol synthesis process is accelerated on existing equipment. At the same time, the energy-generating part of the plant’s equipment operates in almost the same mode, although the supply of useful electricity in accordance with the requirements of the power system is reduced several times. The use of a single-pass methanol synthesis reactor drastically reduces the size and cost of synthesis unit equipment. At the same time, a significant content of unreacted useful gases (H2 and CO) at the outlet of the synthesis reactor is not a drawback of the scheme since the exhaust gases are used as fuel for an energy gas turbine plant. A feature of the proposed technology is the beneficial use of CO2 during the night period, which, in addition to a significant reduction in its emissions into the atmosphere at this time, simultaneously and without additional costs, also solves the problems associated with its disposal since carbon dioxide is used inside the technological scheme as a raw material for obtaining additional amounts of synthesis gas. Compared with existing plants for the separate production of electricity, heat, and methanol, the proposed technological scheme will allow achieving natural gas savings of approximately 20% and reduce atmospheric CO2 emissions by up to 30%.