(154b) Thermal Efficiency and Heat Recovery in the SNG Synthesis System

Because of the increase in global warming and the need to find new ways to minimize carbon footprint, the utilization of renewable energy has become essential in recent years.

In previous projects, we proposed an approach to utilize renewal hydrogen energy and Capture Carbon Dioxide to produce Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) by classic Sabatier reaction. This SNG is produced by the methanation of CO2 from fossil fuel power stations and hydrogen produced by water electrolysis.

The SNG is transported by pipeline to LNG tankers to the demand location. SNG is combined with carbon capture and recycled to minimize carbon emissions to the environment. The SNG synthesis consists of several Sabatier reactors in series run at very high temperatures that range from 250 deg C to 700 deg C; the product is cooled to remove water before SNG is sent to liquefaction.

This paper explores ways to increase thermal efficiency in the SNG Synthesis system. The heat recovery by high-pressure steam is modeled using CHEMCAD simulation software.