Gasification  [ Return towards  Applications  ]

These can include:

Hydrogen
Syngas (mixture of Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide)
Carbon monoxide
Sulfur
Steam and Power
The basic chemical products can be combined with downstream processes to further produce useful products such as:

Ammonia
Methanol
Dimethyl ether
Gasolines
Distillates
Recoverable and sequesterable Carbon Dioxide
(if sufficient storage area or sink can be found)
Gasification involves the incomplete combustion of a low valued hydrocarbon stream in an oxygen deficient or reducing atmosphere. Gasification can use only 20 to 30 % of the theoretically required oxygen for complete combustion. The process operates at high pressure and temperature, and includes the use of oxygen and process steam in conjunction with the feed (fuel). Typical reactions include:

C + O2 ----> CO2 (Exothermic)
C + ½O2 ----> CO (Exothermic)
CO + H2O ----> CO2 + H2 (Exothermic)
C + H2O ----->  CO + H2 (Endothermic)
C + CO2 ---->  2CO (Endothermic)
CO + 3H2 ---->  CH4 + H2O (Endothermic)
C + 2H2 ---->   CH4 (Endothermic)
The use of gasification technology within a refinery configuration, coupled with hydrotreater, hydrocracker and/or catalytic cracking processes, can enhance a refiner’s flexibility to:

Meet new and more stringent transportation fuel specifications
Reduce and/or eliminate bottom of the barrel yields
Process heavier and sourer crudes
Produce steam and power for internal use and sales to the power grid (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle projects)
At AIR LIQUIDE, we have participated in supplying oxygen to many of the largest commercially developed Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) projects.