# US 2013/0239481 A1 · Process for the preparation of gaseous synfuel

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- Number: US 2013/0239481 A1
- Document ID: US20130239481A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/885,056
- Filed: 2011-10-27
- Published: 2013-09-19
- Earliest claimed: 2010-11-17
- Assignees: Haldor Topsoe A/S
- Inventors: Poul Erik Højlund Nielsen; Jørgen Madsen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130239481A1

## CPC

- C10L 3/08: Production of synthetic natural gas
- C07C 41/01: Preparation of ethers
- C10K 3/006: {by steam reforming}
- C10K 3/023: {Reducing the tar content}
- C10J 2300/0916: Biomass
- C10J 2300/0956: Air or oxygen enriched air
- C10J 2300/1665: to alcohols, e.g. methanol or ethanol
- C10J 2300/1846: Partial oxidation, i.e. injection of air or oxygen only
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- Y02P 20/145: the feedstock being materials of biological origin
- C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
- C10K: PURIFYING OR MODIFYING THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE
- C10J: PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES (synthesis gas from liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons C01B; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295); CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A process is provided for the preparation of a gaseous syn-fuel having a heating value in the same range as natural gas.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Process for the preparation of a gaseous dimethyl ether synfuel having a BTU value corresponding substantially to the BTU value of natural gas, said process comprising the steps of
providing a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and nitrogen;
catalytically converting the synthesis gas into a dimethyl ether raw product further comprising unconverted synthesis gas, the nitrogen and dissolved carbon dioxide;
cooling and condensing the dimethyl ether raw product with the dissolved carbon dioxide to a liquid and a gaseous phase with the unconverted synthesis gas and the nitrogen;
separating the liquid phase from the gaseous phase;
treating the liquid phase to remove the carbon dioxide from the dimethyl ether raw product and to obtain a purified dimethyl ether product; and
admixing and adjusting content of inert gas having a BTU value of about zero into the purified dimethyl ether raw product to obtain the gaseous dimethyl ether synfuel having a BTU value equal to that of the BTU value of natural gas, wherein the synthesis gas is prepared by air-blown gasification of a carbonaceous material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the feedstock is gasified with air at a pressure of between 2 to 3 MPa.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, comprising the further steps of removal of the dust from the synthesis gas and steam reforming of tar contained in the synthesis gas from the air-blown gasification.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the synthesis gas is further steam reformed upstream the catalytically converting of the synthesis gas into dimethyl ether raw product.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the synthesis gas is pressurized to a pressure of between 8 to 10 MPa prior to the catalytically conversion into the dimethyl ether raw product.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the liquid phase is treated with a liquid solvent of an amine or a liquid solvent containing potassium carbonate for the removal of carbon dioxide from the dimethyl ether raw product.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, comprising the further step of removing carbonyl sulphide, metal carbonyls, carbon disulphide, hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and arsenic and chlorine from the synthesis gas.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Use of the gaseous dimethyl ether synfuel prepared according to claim 1 as pipeline gas in an existing natural gas distribution net.