Novel Non-recycle Methanation Process First Realized in China

The novel non-recycle methanation process, jointly developed by the Heilongjiang Coal Chemical (Group) Company, Ltd. under the China Coal Corporation (CCC), the Beijing Huafu Engineering Co., Ltd. and the Dalian Reak Science and Technology Company, has passed the review and technical appraisal organized by China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF). This technology does not need the recycle gas compressor, which can reduce the energy consumption of the whole system by around 25% and save equipment cost by 20% to demonstrate an obvious energy saving effect and good application prospect.

This technology has been displayed in a pilot test unit set up at the Heilongjiang Coal Chemical (Group) Company with a gas feed rate of 1 000 m3/h. The test results obtained after 72 hours of uninterrupted operation at the site have shown that the CO conversion exceeded 99.9%, with CH4content being higher than 5%, H2content being less than 2%, and CO2being less than 1% at a pressure drop in the system equating to less than 0.2 MPa. Preliminary calculation has shown that in comparison with the traditional process, the investment cost can be reduced by around 20%, while the operating energy consumption can also be decreased by over 25%.