(576a) Coal Gasification for the Production of Chemicals

Following the dramatic upswing in the global energy prices in the past few years, interest in coal gasification as an ?indirect? means of converting coal to transportation fuels and chemicals has been gaining new impetus. Environmental considerations and government legislations are also important drivers in the development in coal gasification, as the polluting elements in coal can be more easily removed via the gasification process (in comparison with direct coal combustion). Moreover, the probable introduction of ?carbon tax? is also propelling companies to search for an economic way of carbon dioxide sequestration for which coal gasification seems to offer a viable way forward in coal-based power generation. Recent advances in coal gasification technologies are facilitating the efficient and clean coal utilization. The synthesis gas intermediate produced can be applied to the economic production of hydrogen, methanol, other chemicals as well as clean coal power generation. The scope of the presentation includes a brief overview of recent development in coal gasification and the current status of the technology. An important aspect of utilizing coal for chemicals production (as well as clean power generation) is the removal of contaminants that are harmful to chemical synthesis and/or to the environment. The presentation will, therefore, also cover the requirements and technologies for heavy metal removal, acid gas cleaning and carbon dioxide sequestration. In terms of gasification technologies, the entrained-flow/oxygen blown processes typified by those of GE and Shell seemed to be gaining wide acceptance around the world. Based on our process designs, the techno-economics for the production of syngas (H2 + CO) of the two leading technologies are compared and discussed. In addition, recent trends in R&D in coal gasification technologies will also be discussed in the presentation.