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Hydromethanation, [hahy-droh- meth-uh-ney-shuhn] is the process by which methane (the main constituent of natural gas) is produced through the combination of steam, carbonaceous solids and a catalyst in a fluidized bed reactor. The process, developed over the past 60 years by multiple research groups, enables the highly efficient conversion of coal, petroleum coke and biomass (e.g. switchgrass or wood waste) into clean, pipeline quality methane.^[1]

Chemistry

The chemistry of catalytic hydromethanation involves reacting steam and carbon to produce methane and carbon dioxide, according to the following reaction:

2C + 2H₂O -> CH₄ + CO₂

The process utilizes a specially designed reactor and depends upon a proprietary metal catalyst to promote chemical conversion at the low temperatures where the water gas shift reaction and methanation take place.

When a feedstock treated with the catalyst is introduced into this reactor and mixed with steam, three reactions occur that efficiently convert the feedstock into methane.

Hydromethanation reactions

Steam carbon

C + H₂O -> CO + H₂

Water-gas shift

CO + H₂O -> H₂ + CO₂

Hydro-gasification

2H₂ + C -> CH₄

The combination of carbon (C) from the carbon feedstock, water (H₂O) from steam, and the catalyst, produces pure methane and a pure stream of carbon dioxide (CO₂) which is 100% captured in the system and available for sequestration. The overall reaction is thermally neutral, requiring no addition or removal of heat, making it highly efficient.

The development of hydromethanation is an example of process intensification, where several operations are combined into a single step to improve overall efficiency, reduce maintenance and equipment requirements, and lower capital costs.

Byproducts

In addition to methane, hydromethanation produces a high-purity stream of carbon dioxide (CO₂), an odorless, colorless greenhouse gas. This CO₂ stream is fully captured in the process and can be prevented from entering the atmosphere using a process called sequestration. The CO₂ can be injected into underground oil reserves, through a process called enhanced oil recovery (“EOR”), or geologically sequestered.

Because hydromethanation is a catalytic process that does not rely on the combustion of carbonaceous solids to capture their energy value, it does not produce the nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate emissions typically associated with the burning of carbon feedstocks, including certain types of biomass. Due to this quality, it intrinsically captures nearly all of the impurities found in coal and converts them into valuable chemical grade products. Ash, sulfur, nitrogen, and trace metals are all removed using commercial gas clean-up processes and are either safely disposed of or used as raw materials for other products such as sulfuric acid and fertilizer.

Commercialization

GreatPoint Energy, a company founded in 2005 by serial entrepreneur Andrew Perlman, is a forerunner in the development and commercialization of hydromethanation. The company has raised $150 million in venture capital^[2] from Dow, AES Corporation, Suncor Energy Inc., Peabody Energy, Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV), Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Khosla Ventures and Citi Capital Advisors (CCA). In May, 2012 GreatPoint Energy and China Wanxiang Holdings closed a $1.25 billion investment and partnership agreement to finance and construct the first phase of a one trillion cubic feet per year coal to natural gas production facility in China.^[2] The deal between GreatPoint Energy and Wanxiang was the largest US venture capital investment in 2012.^[3]

References

^ Fairley, Peter (30 January 2007). "Cheaper Natural Gas from Coal". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
^ ^a ^b Kolodny, Lora (20 February 2012). "Bluer Skies For Shanghai?". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
^ Wesoff, Eric (2 January 2013). "GreatPoint Energy and Fisker Automotive win the largest VC rounds in 2012". Green Tech Media. Retrieved 7 June 2013.

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+{{Short description|Chemical process}}
-{{Orphan|date=February 2009}}
+'''Hydromethanation''', [hahy-droh- meth-uh-ney-shuhn] is the process by which [[methane]] (the main constituent of [[natural gas]]) is produced through the combination of [[steam]], [[carbon]]aceous solids and a [[catalyst]] in a [[fluidized bed reactor]]. The process, developed over the past 60 years by multiple research groups, enables the highly efficient conversion of [[coal]], [[petroleum coke]] and [[biomass]] (e.g. switchgrass or wood waste) into clean, pipeline quality methane.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fairley|first=Peter|title=Cheaper Natural Gas from Coal|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/news/407240/cheaper-natural-gas-from-coal/|accessdate=7 June 2013|newspaper=MIT Technology Review|date=30 January 2007}}</ref>
-{{cleanup}}
-{{wikify}}
+==Chemistry==
-Hy-dro-meth-an-a-tion [hahy-droh- meth-uh-ney-shuhn], n. 1. [Hydromethanation] is the process by which natural gas (methane) is produced through the combination of steam, carbonaceous solids and a catalyst in a fluid bed reactor. The process, developed over the past 60 years by multiple research groups, enables the highly efficient conversion of coal, petroleum coke and biomass (e.g. switchgrass or wood waste) into clean, pipeline quality natural gas.
+The chemistry of catalytic hydromethanation involves reacting steam and carbon to produce methane and [[carbon dioxide]], according to the following reaction:
+C + 2H<sub>2</sub>O ->  CH<sub>4</sub> + CO<sub>2</sub>
-The chemistry of catalytic hydromethanation involves reacting steam and carbon to produce methane and carbon dioxide, according to the following reaction:
+The process utilizes a specially designed reactor and depends upon a proprietary metal catalyst to promote chemical conversion at the low temperatures where the [[water gas shift reaction]] and [[methanation]] take place.
+When a feedstock treated with the catalyst is introduced into this reactor and mixed with steam, three reactions occur that efficiently convert the feedstock into methane.
-C + 2H2O  converts to:  CH4 + CO2
+===Hydromethanation reactions===
+;Steam carbon:
-The process utilizes a specially designed reactor and depends upon a proprietary metal catalyst to promote chemical conversion at the low temperatures where water gas shift and methanation take place.
+C + H<sub>2</sub>O ->  CO + H<sub>2</sub>
+;Water-gas shift:
+CO + H<sub>2</sub>O ->  H<sub>2</sub> + CO<sub>2</sub>
+;Hydro-gasification:
+H<sub>2</sub> + C ->  CH<sub>4</sub>
+The combination of [[carbon]] (C) from the carbon feedstock, water (H<sub>2</sub>O) from steam, and the catalyst, produces pure methane and a pure stream of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) which is 100% captured in the system and available for [[Carbon sequestration|sequestration]]. The overall reaction is thermally neutral, requiring no addition or removal of heat, making it highly efficient.
-When a feedstock treated with the catalyst is introduced into this reactor and mixed with steam, three reactions occur that efficiently convert the feedstock into natural gas.
+The development of hydromethanation is an example of process intensification, where several operations are combined into a single step to improve overall efficiency, reduce maintenance and equipment requirements, and lower capital costs.
-Hydromethanation Reactions:
+==Byproducts==
-Steam carbon:
-C + H2O  CO + H2
-Water-gas shift:
-CO + H2O  H2 + CO2
-Hydro-gasification:
-H2 + C  CH4
+In addition to methane, hydromethanation produces a high-purity stream of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), an odorless, colorless [[greenhouse gas]].  This CO<sub>2</sub> stream is fully captured in the process and can be prevented from entering the atmosphere using a process called [[carbon sequestration|sequestration]]. The CO<sub>2</sub> can be injected into underground oil reserves, through a process called [[enhanced oil recovery]] (“EOR”), or geologically sequestered.
-The combination of carbon (C) from the carbon feedstock, water (H2O) from steam, and the catalyst, produces pure natural gas and a pure stream of carbon dioxide (CO2) which is 100% captured in the system and available for sequestration. The overall reaction is thermally neutral, requiring no addition or removal of heat, making it highly efficient.
+Because hydromethanation is a catalytic process that does not rely on the combustion of carbonaceous solids to capture their energy value, it does not produce the [[nitrogen oxide]]s (NOx), [[sulfur oxide]]s (SOx) and [[particulate]] emissions typically associated with the burning of carbon feedstocks, including certain types of biomass.  Due to this quality, it intrinsically captures nearly all of the impurities found in coal and converts them into valuable chemical grade products.  [[Fly ash|Ash]], [[sulfur]], [[nitrogen]], and trace metals are all removed using commercial gas clean-up processes and are either safely disposed of or used as raw materials for other products such as [[sulfuric acid]] and [[fertilizer]].
-The development of hydromethanation is an example of process intensification, where several operations are combined into a single step to improve overall efficiency, reduce maintenance and equipment requirements, and lower capital costs.
+==Commercialization==
+[[GreatPoint Energy]], a company founded in 2005 by serial entrepreneur [[Andrew Perlman]], is a forerunner in the development and commercialization of hydromethanation. The company has raised $150 million in venture capital<ref name=blogs/> from [[Dow Chemical Company|Dow]], [[AES Corporation]], [[Suncor Energy Inc.]], [[Peabody Energy]], [[Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV)]], [[Draper Fisher Jurvetson]], [[Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers]], [[Khosla Ventures]] and [[Citi Capital Advisors (CCA)]]. In May, 2012 GreatPoint Energy and China [[Wanxiang]] Holdings closed a $1.25 billion investment and partnership agreement to finance and construct the first phase of a one trillion cubic feet per year coal to natural gas production facility in [[People's Republic of China|China]].<ref name="blogs">{{cite news|last=Kolodny|first=Lora|title=Bluer Skies For Shanghai?|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2012/02/20/bluer-skies-for-beijing-u-s-start-up-strikes-1-25-billion-deal-to-turn-chinese-coal-into-natural-gas/?mod=google_news_blog|accessdate=7 June 2013|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=20 February 2012}}</ref> The deal between GreatPoint Energy and Wanxiang was the largest US venture capital investment in 2012.<ref name="greentechmedia">{{cite news|last=Wesoff|first=Eric|title=GreatPoint Energy and Fisker Automotive win the largest VC rounds in 2012|url=http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Top-Ten-Greentech-VC-Deals-of-2012|accessdate=7 June 2013|newspaper=Green Tech Media|date=2 January 2013}}</ref>
+==References==
-Other Technologies
+{{reflist}}
-Coal gasification has a history that dates back to the 19th century with the production of “town gas,” or “coal gas”.
+==See also==
-Traditionally, the production of any gas from carbon feedstocks has been an inefficient and capital intensive process.  Conventional gasification technologies produce synthesis gas (or syngas), a combination of hydrogen and carbon monoxide which has a significantly lower energy value than natural gas and which generates far more carbon dioxide when burned.  Syngas also cannot be transported in natural gas pipelines, and is not compatible with existing power facilities, industrial plants, and commercial/residential heating systems.  Although syngas can be further upgraded into methane (pipeline quality natural gas), it currently can only be done through the addition of multiple, complex, higher cost and lower efficiency processing plants.  The result is a far more expensive end product.
+* [[Fossil fuel reforming]]
+* [[Producer gas]]
-Byproducts
+* [[Water gas]]
+* [[GreatPoint Energy]]
-In addition to methane, hydromethanation produces a high-purity stream of carbon dioxide (CO2), an odorless colorless gas that is also considered a greenhouse gas.  This CO2 stream is fully captured in the process and prevented from entering the atmosphere using a process called sequestration. The CO2 can be injected into underground oil reserves, through a process called enhanced oil recovery (“EOR”), or geologically sequestered.
-Because hydromethanation is a catalytic process that does not rely on the combustion of carbonaceous solids to capture their energy value, it does not produce the nitrogen (in the form of NOx), sulfur (in the form of SOx) and particulate emissions typically associated with the burning of carbon feedstocks, including certain types of biomass.  Due to this quality, it intrinsically captures nearly all of the impurities found in coal and converts them into valuable chemical grade products.  Ash, sulfur, nitrogen, and trace metals are all removed using commercial gas clean-up processes and are either safely disposed of or used as raw materials for other products such as sulfuric acid and fertilizer.
 [[Category:Chemical reactions]]
+[[Category:Catalysis]]
+[[Category:Fuel gas]]
+[[Category:Natural gas]]
+[[Category:Coal]]