Sustainable e-syngas: A decarbonisation win-win Transforming syngas production with innovative methods for sustainable energy and carbon circularity in the quest for net-zero emissions
Stephen B. Harrison sbh4
A world without carbon would be one we could not live in. The foods we eat contain carbon in the form of carbohydrates and proteins. Our bodies rely on carbon to build flesh, blood, and bones. The most effective fuels are gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons. Eliminating carbon is not an option. Circular use of carbon is therefore a key pillar of sustainability on this planet. The use of hydrocarbons generates carbon dioxide (CO 2). Therefore, circular carbon dictates circular use of CO 2 . The carbon cycle is a natural cycle, as plants capture CO2 via photosynthesis. Carbon circularity can be on an annual timescale, such as the growth of annual crops and their combustion, or on an evolutionary timescale, such as the generation of fossil fuels, their use, and then sequestration of the CO2 emitted during their use.
Plastics and many of the petrochemical-derived materials we use daily rely on syngas for their production. If we are to continue to use these commodities and pursue a global journey to net- zero greenhouse gas emissions, a transition to sustainable syngas production is required. Sustainable syngas can be produced from biomethane reforming or biomass gasification. E-syngas supports the ongoing electrification of industrial processes and utilises captured CO 2, avoiding its direct emission to the atmosphere. It is therefore a win-win solution to sustainable syngas production. Syngas and CO 2 sequestration Syngas is a mixture of predominantly carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen and may also contain some CO 2 . It is one of the most common chemical intermediates. Syngas is the building
ASU
* Steam may be imported or generated by syngas cooler ** For methanol or FTS fuels production, shift reactors may be replaced by steam generation in syngas cooler
Air
Post combustion ue gas
Natural gas feed
Oxygen
PSA purge gas
CO to CCS
Hydrogen
H compressor
Fired heater
Catalyst bed
Gas heated reformer GHR
Auto- thermal reformer ATR
Steam*
Condensate
PSA purge gas
Feed preparation
Reforming
Water gas shift reactors**
CO removal
Puri cation and compression
Figure 1 Blue hydrogen production process with gas heated reforming and autothermal reforming
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