l 2019 CCS & High Value-Added Chemical Conversion Process Forum is to be held on Dec 17th at Nanjing, Jiangsu Province
l The forum will discuss the themes of CO2 to methanol, olefins, aromatics, gasoline, formic acid, DMF and degradable plastic processes
l Experts from CAS Shanghai Advanced Research Institute will make important presentation on “Updated Progresses of CO2 Conversion Processes”
As indicated in ASIACHEM “Chinese CO2 Conversion Processes/Projects Annual Report”, carbon tax probably to be levied in future will cause vast impact on profitability of producers in electricity, chemical, steel and other huge amount CO2 emission involving industries and, therefore, investment and application of carbon emission reducing processes are urgent necessity for them.
On Oct 19th 2019, Shanghai SARI-Lu’an-AP Energy Technology Company JV Contract signature ceremony was held in Beijing, shareholder representatives from Lu’an Group, Shanghai SAIL Financial, SARI, AP and Shanghai Sharui Low Carbon Energy Partnership etc attended the event. The JV company, Shanghai SARI-Lu’an-AP Energy Technology Company, is aimed to promote commercial application of methane / carbon dioxide (CH4-CO2) reforming process.
CH4-CO2 reforming process is jointly developed by Lu’an Group, CAS SARI and Shell Company. So far, the project has accomplished demo unit steady state operation and improvement, and finalized big size commercial plant engineering software package. Success of the R&D project will realize stabilized operation of the world first commercial size CH4-CO2 autothermal reforming to syngas industrial side-line plant as a whole system, reducing the emission of CH4 and CO2, both greenhouse gases, to achieve resource combined uses, reach highly unified economic, social and environment benefits, and provide solution for Chinese low carbon energy developing routes. Taking in the accounts of carbon tax gain and certain policy stimulus, the process is of better development prospect and promotion opportunity.
The world first commercial size CH4-CO2 reformer unit
CO2 and CH4 are both typical greenhouse gases and important carbon containing resources. They can be used as carbon source to convert, under certain condition, to syngas (CO + H2), this is so called CO2-CH4 reforming or dry reforming. The process is especially vulnerable to coke deposition so that anti-coking catalyst and specific reactor are commonly deemed as the core of the process commercial application. CAS SARI Low Carbon Conversion Science & Engineering Laboratory has succeeded in solution of nano metal stability by especially the match of catalyst cast and reactor internal structure. Such nano mesoporous catalyst species have dual anti-coking and anti-sintering performances while the best match of reactor internal structure and catalyst is one more important factor for the success. Above the foundation, the process can be applied to steam reforming and multiple reforming processes, realizing flexible adjustment of H2/CO ratio in syngas composition (0.7-2.0).
According to ASIACHEM “Chinese CO2 Conversion Processes/Projects Annual Report”, on Jun 21st 2017, the CH4-CO2 autothermal reforming to syngas unit was initially started up, as a whole system, in Shanxi Lu’an Group CTL production base, and entered full load operation on Jul 10th. On Aug 2nd 2017, the project passed field performance test organized by China Petroleum & Chemical Industry Association. The unit outputted over 200k Nm3/d of low H2/CO mol ratio syngas by conversion of up to 60t/d CO2 during the test.
The expert panel concluded that the research project developed high efficiency nano Ni-base catalyst and specific reactor both of super performance, improved the process system, built and maintained the world first commercial size methane-carbon dioxide autothermal reforming to syngas industrial side-line unit in steady state operation, realized CO2 efficient conversion as a valuable resource and adjustable H2/CO ration in syngas product. The panel suggested commercial application of the process in soonest future.
