Hybrid Atmospheric Fluidized Bed Gasifier for High Methane Content Syngas

Many of the coal gasification technologies that exist today produce a low-methane content syngas that is high in carbon monoxide and hydrogen. New gasifier designs are needed to produce a high-methane-content syngas that can be more easily utilized by industrial users, upgraded to synthetic natural gas (SNG) for pipeline transport, or economically utilized by utility-scale fuel cells. This project will develop a coal gasification technology based on the utilization of a hybrid atmospheric fluidized bed gasifier/combustor configuration. By using syngas and steam as the fluidizing and gasifying medium and by heating the gasifier indirectly, a significant (>30%) content of methane will be produced in the syngas. In Phase I, a proof-of-concept-scale, atmospheric fluidized bed gasifier will be built and tested on coal. In Phase II, a larger unit will be constructed, and the transfer of the fluidizing medium between two fluidized bed reactors will be demonstrated. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should be applicable to the industrial gasification, mine-mouth SNG, and power-generation industries. If the technology were used to replace natural gas in industrial manufacturing operations in industries such as steel, U.S.-based manufacturers might be prevented from relocating to energy-producing countries.