GTL Gas Purification Unit for Stranded Natural Gas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current GTL-FPSO technologies face limitations in energy utilization efficiency and carbon utilization efficiency due to variations in CO2 content in natural gas from stranded gas fields, leading to restricted synthetic fuel production and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that incorporate a gas purification unit with a CO2 separation device and bypass unit, connected in parallel, to adjust the H2/CO molar ratio and CO2 concentration of synthetic gas, optimizing it for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactions, and recycle residual CO2 as a reaction raw material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If natural gas with varying CO2 content is used as raw material for GTL process, then the adaptability to different stranded gas fields is improved, but the energy utilization efficiency and carbon utilization efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The gas purification unit dynamically adjusts its operation based on the CO2 content of the input natural gas. The system modifies process parameters such as purification intensity, reactor conditions, and separation rates to optimize energy utilization efficiency for each specific gas composition, transforming a static process into a dynamic adaptive system that maintains high efficiency across varying feedstock qualities
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key process parameters including temperature, pressure, catalyst composition, and purification degree based on the CO2 content of the natural gas. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system optimizes the reforming and synthesis processes to maintain high energy and carbon utilization efficiency regardless of the variability in raw gas composition
2Adaptability or versatility
If natural gas with varying CO2 content is used as raw material for GTL process, then the adaptability to different stranded gas fields is improved, but the carbon utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gas purification unit incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor the CO2 content of the input natural gas and adjust the purification and synthesis processes accordingly. This feedback control ensures that carbon is efficiently utilized by optimizing the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis conditions based on real-time analysis of the gas composition, preventing carbon loss while adapting to different gas sources
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts critical parameters such as catalyst type, reaction temperature, pressure, and H2/CO ratio in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit based on the CO2 content of the feed gas. These parameter changes optimize carbon conversion efficiency for each specific gas composition, ensuring maximum carbon utilization while maintaining adaptability to various stranded gas fields
3Device complexity
If conventional GTL-FPSO technology is used without gas purification unit, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity of synthetic fuel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gas purification unit performs preliminary purification of the natural gas before it enters the reforming and synthesis processes. By removing impurities and adjusting the gas composition in advance, the system prevents downstream process disruptions and optimizes the conditions for synthetic fuel production, thereby enhancing overall productivity without requiring complex modifications to the core GTL-FPSO technology
4Productivity
If CO2 separation device is used to purify synthetic gas, then the productivity of synthetic fuel is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas purification unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both to purify the natural gas input to the reforming process and to adjust the synthetic gas composition for optimal Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. By combining multiple functions in a single integrated unit, the system improves synthetic fuel productivity while minimizing the increase in device complexity that would result from adding separate dedicated units for each function
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances energy and carbon utilization efficiency, minimizes energy loss, and suppresses greenhouse gas emissions by providing optimal synthetic gas for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, regardless of CO2 content, thus improving the overall efficiency and feasibility of synthetic fuel production.
Implementation Method 1
a CO2 separation device (62) to separate and remove carbon dioxide from the synthetic gas
Implementation Method 2
a reforming reactor (50) to generate synthetic gas including hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) through a Steam carbon dioxide Reforming (SCR) reaction
Implementation Method 3
a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor (70) to generate the synthetic fuel from the synthetic gas generated by the reforming reactor (50) through a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus and method of preparing synthetic fuel using natural gas extracted from a stranded gas field on land or at sea as a raw material through a compact GTL process or a GTL-FPSO process. A parallel-type gas purification unit for controlling a molar ratio of synthetic gas and a concentration of carbon dioxide in the synthetic gas, in which a CO2 separation device and a bypass unit are disposed in parallel, is provided and, thus, the gas purification unit may prepare the synthetic gas by a steam carbon dioxide reforming (SCR) reaction using natural gas having different CO2 contents of various stranded gas fields and then supply the synthetic gas having an optimum composition suitable for a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.