Title: Co-production of synthesis gas and power by integration of Partial Oxidation reactor, gas turbine and air separation unit

Authors: B.A. Albrecht, J.B.W. Kok, Th.H. Van Der Meer

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

Abstract: A new synthesis gas production process based on partial oxidation (POX) of natural gas is investigated. Synthesis gas and mechanical power are generated in a plant that integrates a POX reactor, a synthesis gas turbine and an air separation unit. The synthesis gas is expanded in the turbine which runs the air separation unit. By means of an exergy analysis, it is shown that the synthesis gas turbine is a very efficient way of synthesis gas heat recovery. When compared with a conventional system (which uses a heat recovery steam generator), the new plant delivers 10 times more power, reduces with 26.4% the exergy losses and has an increased efficiency with 3.7%.

Keywords: synthesis gas; partial oxidation; POX reactors; gas turbines; exergy analysis; air separation; natural gas; gas heat recovery; mechanical power; power generation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2007.015078

International Journal of Exergy, 2007 Vol.4 No.4, pp.357 - 370

Published online: 11 Sep 2007 *

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