Combined Methanation and Desulfurization of Synthesis Gas by Electrical Discharge. Final Report April 1987-March 1989

摘要

The present method of upgrading gas to pipeline quality methane often requires several processing steps downstream of gasification. These steps include some method for removal of hydrogen sulfide and the subsequential recovery of the sulfur and a method for methanation of the carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The simultaneous desulfurization and methanation within one process step was investigated in this program. The method uses corona discharge chemistry capable of achieving desulfurization and methanation within the piping downstream of a gasifier. The technique is a simple, one step, flow thru process requiring no sorbents, catalysts, or regeneration of chemicals. Gas mixtures, comprised of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide, were passed through a corona discharge reactor and subsequently analyzed for methane and hydrogen sulfide content. Results showed that the yield of methane per unit of discharge energy is not sufficient for commercial consideration of the methanation step. On the other hand, it was found that hydrogen sulfide can be removed at moderate energy consumption, with elemental sulfur as an end product.