Method for generating synthesis gas for use in hydroformylation reactions

A method for the generation of a gas mixture comprising carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen for use in hydroformylation plants, comprising the steps of:

• evaporating water to steam,
• feeding the steam to a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) or an SOEC stack at a sufficient temperature for the cell or cell stack to operate while supplying an electrical current to the SOEC or SOEC stack to effect a partial conversion of steam to hydrogen forming a raw product gas,
• feeding CO2 from an external source,
• utilizing the raw product gas comprising H2 together with the CO2 as feed for a reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reactor in which the RWGS reaction takes place, converting some of the CO2 and H2 to CO and H2O forming a RWGS product gas,
• removing at least some of the remaining steam from the RWGS product gas stream by cooling the RWGS product gas stream allowing for condensation of at least part of the steam as liquid water and separating a remaining product gas from the liquid water, the remaining product gas comprising CO, CO2 and H2, and
• using the remaining product gas for a liquid phase hydroformylation process utilizing the carbon monoxide and hydrogen as reactants, wherein the CO2 in the remaining product gas is sufficient to form a CO2-expanded liquid (CXL) reaction medium for the hydroformylation process.

A method for the generation of a gas mixture comprising carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen for use in hydroformylation plants, comprising the steps of:

• evaporating water to steam,
• feeding the steam to a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) or an SOEC stack at a sufficient temperature for the cell or cell stack to operate while supplying an electrical current to the SOEC or SOEC stack to effect a partial conversion of steam to hydrogen forming a raw product gas,
• feeding excess CO2 from an external source,
• utilizing the raw product gas comprising H2 together with the CO2 as feed for a reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reactor in which the RWGS reaction takes place, converting some of the CO2 and H2 to CO and H2O forming a RWGS product gas,
• removing at least some of the remaining steam from the RWGS product gas stream by cooling the RWGS product gas stream allowing for condensation of at least part of the steam as liquid water and separating a remaining product gas from the liquid water, the remaining product gas comprising CO, CO2 and H2, and
• using the remaining product gas for a liquid phase hydroformylation process utilizing the carbon monoxide and hydrogen as reactants, while utilizing the CO2 to form a CO2-expanded liquid (CXL) reaction medium for the hydroformylation process.

A method for the generation of a gas mixture comprising carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen for use in hydroformylation plants, comprising the steps of:

• evaporating water to steam,
• feeding the steam to a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) or an SOEC stack at a sufficient temperature for the cell or cell stack to operate while supplying an electrical current to the SOEC or SOEC stack to effect a partial conversion of steam to hydrogen forming a raw product gas,
• feeding CO2 from an external source,
• utilizing the raw product gas comprising H2 together with the CO2 as feed for a reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reactor in which the RWGS reaction takes place, converting some of the CO2 and H2 to CO and H2O forming a RWGS product gas,
• removing at least some of the remaining steam from the RWGS product gas stream by cooling the RWGS product gas stream allowing for condensation of at least part of the steam as liquid water and separating a remaining product gas from the liquid water, the remaining product gas comprising CO, CO2 and H2, and
• using the remaining product gas for a liquid phase hydroformylation process utilizing the carbon monoxide and hydrogen as reactants, while utilizing the CO2 to form a CO2-expanded liquid (CXL) reaction medium for the hydroformylation process
• recycling CO2 from the hydroformylation process to the RWGS reactor.