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The methanol and electricity poly-generation system based on coal partial gasification is proposed. Techno-economic analysis of the system is conducted by using Aspen Plus and the effects of methanol synthesis temperature and cyclic gas reflux ratio on the system performance are studied. The detailed economic data are obtained. The IGCC system is established simultaneously and compared with the poly-generation system. The results show that both methanol production and system efficiency decrease with the increase of methanol synthesis temperature. Methanol production increases while system efficiency decreases with increase of the recycle gas ratio. System efficiency would reach as high as 56.8%, while the system efficiency of IGCC is 53.11%. By the calculation of the economic data, the IRR and the payback period of the poly-generation system are 24.1% and 4.14 years, respectively. While IRR and payback period of IGCC system are 3.4% and 18.06 years, respectively. The results show that methanol and electricity poly-generation system based on coal partial gasification has a promising prospect. • The proposed system is based on coal partial gasification and CFB technology. • The power generation efficiency of the PGCC is more than 3% higher than that of IGCC. • The IRR and payback period of PGCC is ∼21% higher and 14 years shorter than that of IGCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal gasification, the major approach to coal-based chemicals synthesis, suffers from substantial carbon dioxide emission. Reducing CO 2 emission is the emphasis and hotspot in coal chemical industry. On the other hand, the traditional coking process is inefficiency of carbon and hydrogen resources utilization. For higher coal resource utilization and lower carbon emission, this paper proposes a novel methanol production process from coal gasification integrated with coal coking. This process consists of the units of coal gasification, coking, coke gasification, dry methane reforming, and methanol synthesis. Coke gasification transforms the low-valued coke to high-valued chemicals and makes the process suitable for market variation. DMR converts methane and CO 2 into syngas, increasing the overall resource utilization efficiency. This integrated process has the advantages of higher valued products and larger methanol productivity. According to the simulation and detailed techno-economic analysis, the new process has a much higher carbon utilization efficiency of 51.6%, compared to 37.3% of the single coal to methanol (CTM) process, and the corresponding CO 2 emission is reduced by 34.6%. The energy efficiency of the CGCTM process is 62%, which is about 21.6% higher than that of CTM process. As for economic benefits, the internal rate of return for the new process is 22.5%, much higher than 15.3% of the current CTM process. • An integrated process of coal gasification and coking to methanol production was proposed. • The new process is suitable for market variation and can enhance the flexibility of the system. • The new process has much higher carbon utilization efficiency and lower CO 2 emission. • The new process will show the economic advantages in the era of high carbon tax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a thermochemical process design and techno-economic analysis for the production of methanol (MeOH) from Kenaf cultivated in Korea. The proposed process combines three main subsystems to allow for the processing of 2000 tons of kenaf a day: kenaf-to-syngas, syngas-to-MeOH, and a combined heat and power cycle. In the first subsystem, clean syngas is produced from kenaf via a two-step carbonization and steam gasification process. The clean syngas is then catalytically upgraded to MeOH using a commercial Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst. The third subsystem allows for the generation of heat and electricity to close the energy balance by combusting the biomass residues. Energy analysis and optimization of the heat exchanger network allowed for all energy requirements to be satisfied internally, high overall energy efficiency (60.6%), and the selling of 3.3 MW of excess electricity. Furthermore, an economic feasibility analysis of the process showed that the minimum selling price of MeOH (99.9 wt%) was 0.413 US$/kgMeOH. Importantly, the process economics could be in the range of the market price with respect to incorporating different types of H 2 production technology into the process. • Green methanol production is a promising technology to convert Kenaf. • A process including a two-step of gasification and catalytic upgrading is designed. • Economic feasibility is evaluated by considering process scale. • Sensitivity analysis identify the relative significance of the major key parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes an innovative methanol production process from landfill gas (LFG) through direct CO 2 hydrogenation and methane (CH 4) reforming. The integration of two methanol production routes from CO 2 and CH 4 enables the full upcycling of carbon sources in the LFG into methanol, as compared to conventional processes that utilize only CH 4 as a carbon source. The optimal process configurations and operating conditions of two LFG-to-methanol processes (L2M), stand-alone (L2M-SA) and with hydrogen supply (L2M−HS), are proposed by developing rigorous process models with the aid of sequential quadratic programming optimization. The capability of the processes is analyzed using four evaluation metrics: carbon and energy efficiencies, net CO 2 emission, and unit production cost (UPC). It was observed that the carbon and energy efficiencies of both the L2M processes could reach up to 92% and 69%, respectively. The methanol UPC is estimated in the range of 392–440 USD/ton, which is competitive against other renewable and conventional methanol production options. In addition, the CO 2 emission (0.83 and 1.29 kg of CO 2 per kg of MeOH of the L2M−HS and -SA, respectively) implies that the full upcycling of LFG to methanol is not only economically viable but also an environmentally clean strategy. • New green methanol production processes from a landfill gas are proposed. • Methane reforming and CO 2 hydrogenation are integrated for full-upcycling of landfill gas. • The optimal operating conditions for maximizing methanol production are identified. • The processes show improved energy efficiency, CO 2 emission and competitive economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents conceptual design, economic evaluation, and sensitivity analysis of a commercial scale carbon-utilization process that produces methanol (MeOH) from blast furnace gas (BFG). Three process cases that use different N 2 compositions in the feed (Case 1: 40%, Case 2: 35%, and Case 3: 30%) are simulated. The kinetic model over a commercial Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst is used to consider the effect of N 2 on the reaction and to find the optimal process synthesis condition. The proposed process yields 78.3–113.3 kt MeOH /y with 32.2–40.2% energy efficiency, and after heat integration it has no requirement for external heat. Case 3 improves energy efficiency by 5.2% compared to the conventional electricity production process from BFG. The process is assessed using techno-economic and environmental metrics. The lowest minimum selling price of US$ 902/t MeOH and the highest potential to reduce CO 2 emissions of 3.9 t CO2 /t MeOH are obtained for Case 3. Sensitivity analysis for H 2 , electricity price and major economic assumptions shows that Case 3 is the better option in the ranges of H 2 price, except high-priced H 2 produced by solar energy, and in ranges of electricity price using current technology. Case 3 is a techno-economically viable alternative under positive assumptions. • A novel strategy for methanol production from blast furnace gas is proposed. • Large-scale process conceptual design is simulated based on validated kinetic model. • Three process cases with different N 2 compositions in feed are examined. • An economic and climate impact analysis of the process are performed. • Considering carbon credit improves process economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]