Sour Shift Process for CO Removal and Hydrogen Generation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current processes for converting carbonaceous feedstocks into gaseous products often require additional steps to remove carbon monoxide, complicating the recovery of methane and hydrogen, especially when there is no need for carbon monoxide in the final gas stream.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the catalytic gasification of carbonaceous feedstocks, followed by a sour shift reaction where carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide using an aqueous medium, thereby depleting the gas stream of carbon monoxide and generating hydrogen, allowing for the separation of hydrogen and methane without the need for further processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional processing steps are used to remove carbon monoxide from the gas stream, then carbon monoxide removal is improved, but device complexity and processing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon monoxide removalVSAvoidprocessing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water gas shift reaction is integrated into the existing gasification process flow, combining CO removal with the primary gasification function. The reaction occurs in a reactor that receives both the gasification product gas and water, eliminating the need for separate CO removal equipment and simplifying the overall process architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The water gas shift reactor serves multiple functions: it removes carbon monoxide from the gas stream, converts CO to valuable hydrogen, and can be integrated with the existing gasification system's heat and mass transfer infrastructure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated CO removal units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If additional processing steps are used to remove carbon monoxide, then carbon monoxide removal is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon monoxide removalVSAvoidprocessing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of simply removing CO as a waste product, the process converts harmful CO into valuable hydrogen through the water gas shift reaction. This transforms a contaminant removal problem into a value-added product generation opportunity, reducing overall processing costs by eliminating the need for separate CO disposal or utilization systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The process uses temperature and pressure parameter changes to optimize the water gas shift reaction. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves efficient CO conversion to hydrogen while maintaining compatibility with existing gasification equipment, avoiding the need for expensive specialized CO removal technology.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide using aqueous medium, then hydrogen yield is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen yieldVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The water gas shift reaction operates continuously alongside the gasification process, with water constantly supplied to the reactor to maintain the conversion of CO to hydrogen. This continuous operation ensures steady hydrogen production without requiring intermittent energy-intensive batch processing or separate CO treatment steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 process efficiently removes carbon monoxide, increasing the yield of hydrogen and simplifying the recovery of methane and hydrogen by eliminating the need for additional processing steps, making it cost-effective and suitable for integrated gasification processes.

Implementation Method 1

contacting the first gas stream with an aqueous medium to convert a substantial portion of the carbon monoxide in the first gas stream to carbon dioxide and generate hydrogen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSour shift reaction: Chemical Transport Reactions

Implementation Method 2

reacting the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification reactor in the presence of steam and a gasification catalyst and under suitable temperature and pressure to form a first gas stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentUS8192716B2Sour shift process for the removal of carbon monoxide from a gas stream

Publication Date: 2012.06.05 SURE CHAMPION INVESTMENT LTD

AI summary

Processes for the catalytic conversion of a carbonaceous composition into a gas stream comprising methane are provided, where a sour shift reaction is used to remove carbon monoxide gas stream produced by the gasification process. The incorporation of the sour shift reaction provides an efficient and cost-effective means of eliminating carbon monoxide from the gas stream. In addition, the sour shift reaction also generates additional hydrogen, thus increasing the amount of hydrogen produced from the gasification process.