Methanation of coal-to-SNG

Brief introduction

Natural gas is an excellent source of clean energy but accounts for only 3.9 percent of China’s primary energy consumption, much lower than the world average of 23.7 percent. In recent years, China’s consumption of natural gas has grown faster than its output rate, and imports are increasing annually. According to State Council Development Research Center forecasts, by 2015, China’s natural gas consumption will reach 150 billion Nm³, with 40 billion Nm³ of that imported. By 2020, the figure will reach 300 billion Nm³, about 40 percent of it imported. So, using its rich coal reserves to produce SNG through gasification, purification, and methanation is a realistic way for China to supplement its natural gas. The methanation process is as follows:

Technical features  

1.High-performance, heat-resistant catalyst for coal-gas methanation

The CNJ-8 catalyst for coal-gas methanation has good activity at low temperatures, a high selectivity and conversion rate, and is heat resistant, with a stable structure.

2.Advanced technology

This methanation process for coal gas is simple, safe, and environmentally friendly, is highly automate, with low energy consumption, low processing costs, and a high, energy utilization rate.

The bed temperature of the methanation reactor is kept within a reasonable range and the volume of recycled gas in this process (recycle rate) is lower than for the conventional process, thereby cutting the power needed for the recycle compressor and significantly lowering energy consumption of the whole unit.

Technical indicators (1000 Nm³ natural gas )

The conversion rate of methanation of CO and CO₂ in coal gas is no less than 98 percent, and the selectivity no less than 99 percent.

Normal temperature: 250~700℃; pressure: ~6.0MPa;

Air speed: 2000~20000h^-1; service life: ≥2 years;

Methane content in SNG product: >95 percent.