초록 ▼

Fuel gas mixtures of different composition containing hydrogen may be the main products or by-products of chemical conversion processes such as, without limitation, processes for the conversion of solid or liquid fuels. Such gas mixtures are, however, normally not fit for public gas supplies, as the

Fuel gas mixtures of different composition containing hydrogen may be the main products or by-products of chemical conversion processes such as, without limitation, processes for the conversion of solid or liquid fuels. Such gas mixtures are, however, normally not fit for public gas supplies, as their heating value and their density and other properties would normally not conform to the standards and the codes of practice for gas properties. Methanation is a known process for the conversion of hydrogen-rich fuel gas mixtures into gases conforming to standard specifications. During the exothermal reaction of methanation, more than 15% of the enthalphy of the reactants may be lost. The invention allows the increase of the heating value of hydrogen-rich fuel gas mixtures, said increase being achieved at a high efficiency and maximizing the recovery of useful energy in the form of gas conforming to standards and electric power. The invention employs a fuel cell unit to which the complete gas mixture is supplied and in which part or all of the hydrogen contained in said gas mixture is oxidized by an electrochemical reaction and from which the constituents not so oxidized are removed inclusive of any hydrogen which may not have been so oxidized.

대표청구항 ▼

A process for increasing the heating value of fuel gas mixtures containing hydrogen gas to at least 17.58 MJ/m3 and increasing the specific gravity of the gas to at least 0.4 comprising: (a) gasifying coal under pressure to produce a raw gas comprising hydrogen gas, carbon monoxide, steam, unsaturat

A process for increasing the heating value of fuel gas mixtures containing hydrogen gas to at least 17.58 MJ/m3 and increasing the specific gravity of the gas to at least 0.4 comprising: (a) gasifying coal under pressure to produce a raw gas comprising hydrogen gas, carbon monoxide, steam, unsaturated hydro-carbons, hydrogen cyanide, and organic sulphur compounds; (b) scrubbing and cooling the raw gas; (c) conducting all the raw gas to a catalytic shift converter wherein the carbon monoxide and steam are converted to carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas, the hydrocarbons are hydrogenated and the hydrogen cyanide and organic sulfur compounds are at least one of decomposed and hydrogenated; (d) removing the sulphur compounds from the gas resulting from (c) to produce a fuel gas mixture containing hydrogen gas; (e) supplying all the fuel gas mixture to a fuel cell unit; (f) supplying oxygen to the fuel cell unit; (g) conducting an electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell unit to oxidize at least part of the hydrogen gas in the fuel gas mixture with the oxygen thereby producing electric energy and steam; (h) removing the resulting fuel gas mixture and steam from the fuel cell unit; and (i) separating the steam from the resulting fuel gas mixture.