Evaluation of Synthetic Natural Gas Production From Renewably Generated Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

The natural gas distribution infrastructure is well developed in many countries, enabling the fuel to be transported long distances via pipelines and easily delivered throughout cities. Using the existing pipeline to transport renewably generated synthetic natural gas (SNG) can leverage the value of the product. While the price of natural gas is near record lows in the United States, many other countries are working to develop SNG as an alternative fuel for transportation markets, especially in Europe and for island nations. This study presents an SNG plant design and evaluates its performance for producing SNG by reacting renewably generated hydrogen with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide feedstock is assumed to be captured and scrubbed from an existing coal fired power plant at the city-gate, where the SNG plant is co-located. Historically, methanation has been a common practice for eliminating carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in various chemical processes such as ammonia production and natural gas purification; for these processes, only small amounts (1–3% molar basis) of carbon oxides need to be converted to methane. A “bulk” methanation process is unique due to the high concentration of carbon oxides and hydrogen. In addition, the carbon dioxide is the only carbon source, and the reaction characteristics of carbon dioxide are much different than carbon monoxide. Thermodynamic and kinetic considerations of the methanation reaction are explored to model and simulate a system of reactors for the conversion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide to SNG. Multiple reactor stages are used to increase temperature control of the reactor and drain water to promote the forward direction of the methanation reaction. Heat recuperation and recovery using organic Rankine cycle units for electricity generation utilizes the heat produced from the methanation reaction. Bulk recycle is used to increase the overall reactant conversion while allowing a satisfactorily high methane content SNG product. A hydrogen membrane separates hydrogen for recycle to increase the Wobbe index of the product SNG by increasing the methane content to nearly 93% by volume. The product SNG has a Wobbe index of 47.5 MJ/m3 which is acceptable for natural gas pipeline transport and end-use appliances in the existing infrastructure. The overall plant efficiency is shown to be 78.1% HHV and 83.2% LHV. The 2nd Law efficiency for the SNG production plant is 84.1%.