Integrated Gasification System for Chemical Yield and Carbon Sequestration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in converting waste solid sustainable carbon materials into chemical products is the low production efficiency and high capital costs associated with gasification processes, leading to increased operating and capital costs due to the limited facility capacity and lower product yield per input carbon.
Innovation Solution
Integrating fossil-derived hydrocarbons with the solid sustainable carbon material gasification process using carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) to boost syngas and hydrogen output, while sequestering biogenic CO2 to achieve net zero greenhouse gas life-cycle assessment (GHG LCA) products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gasification process is used to convert solid sustainable carbon materials into chemical products, then chemical products can be produced, but production efficiency is low and capital costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fossil-derived hydrocarbon processing with solid sustainable carbon material gasification in a single integrated facility. The fossil-derived hydrocarbons are converted to syngas and then to chemical products alongside the biogenic material products, merging two separate processes into one unified system that shares infrastructure and operational resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated facility serves multiple functions: it processes both solid sustainable carbon materials and fossil-derived hydrocarbons, produces multiple types of chemical products (ammonia, methanol, hydrocarbons), and simultaneously achieves carbon capture and sequestration. This multi-functionality increases overall plant productivity and utilization.
2Ease of operation
If facility capacity is limited, then operating costs increase, but expanding facility capacity increases capital costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges fossil-derived hydrocarbon processing with solid sustainable carbon material gasification in a single integrated facility. The fossil-derived hydrocarbons are converted to syngas and then to chemical products alongside the biogenic material products, merging two separate processes into one unified system that shares infrastructure and operational resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by introducing fossil-derived hydrocarbons as an additional feedstock with different properties than solid sustainable carbon materials. This allows the facility to operate at higher throughput and maintain economic viability across varying capacity levels by adjusting the mix of feedstocks processed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If biogenic CO2 is sequestered to achieve net zero GHG emissions, then environmental burden is reduced, but additional infrastructure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The carbon capture and sequestration infrastructure is merged with the existing chemical production facility. The same infrastructure that separates and processes CO2 from the syngas production process is utilized for sequestration, eliminating the need for completely separate capture and storage systems and reducing overall infrastructure requirements.
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 integration enhances plant productivity, reduces GHG emissions, and achieves economically attractive outcomes by increasing the yield of chemical products while maintaining a low environmental burden, allowing for smaller biomass throughput facilities to operate efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
The sized and dried solid sustainable carbon material feed 102 conveyed into gasifier 106 is therein heated, usually in the presence of oxygen and steam, and usually at elevated pressure, to make CO and H2 according to known 'gasification' processes.
Implementation Method 2
converting at least a portion of CO in the one or more gas streams to CO2 to increase H2 in the one or more gas streams
Implementation Method 3
sequestering biogenic CO2 to achieve net zero greenhouse gas life-cycle assessment (GHG LCA) products
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus for converting waste solid sustainable carbon material to chemical products is described herein. The methods add hydrocarbon derived from fossil sources to gas derived from gasifying waste solid sustainable carbon material to enhance hydrogen availability, and in some cases carbon availability, for production of the chemical products. Biomass is used to provide energy to dry waste solid sustainable carbon material to form dry sustainable carbon material to gasify. Carbon dioxide made by the process is at least partially sequestered to yield a chemical manufacturing process with environmental burden substantially less than conventional processes. Use of the hydrocarbon boosts yield of final products.