Natural gas cracker and oxygen removal unit for gas engine in electrical power generation

摘要

A natural gas cracker comprises a pipe, carrying engine exhaust gas, which is fitted with a duct of porous material with a honeycomb or through-hole structure. The cracker has a pipe, carrying engine exhaust gas, fitted with a duct of porous material with a honeycomb or through-hole structure, and a fuel gas housing on the outside of the exhaust gas pipe, with an inlet for supplying fuel gas consisting mainly of methane (CH4) from a fuel gas source and an inlet for carbon dioxide (CO2) separated from the exhaust gas. A porous fuel gas duct in the fuel gas housing comprises porous ceramic material with a catalyst on the surface for converting CH4 and CO2 to reformed fuel containing carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen by thermal decomposition, using the thermal energy of the exhaust gas. Thermal insulation is present on the outside of the fuel gas housing. Independent claims are also included for: (1) an oxygen removal unit for a gas engine; and (2) a gas engine.