PROCESS MODELING OF THERMO-CHEMICAL CONVERSION OF COAL TO CHEMICALS

Abstract

The diversification of coal for its sustainable utilization in producing liquid transportation fuel is inevitable in countries with huge coal reserves. Gasification is considered the most promising thermo-chemical method, which can easily transform any kind of solid fuel into a gaseous mixture usually called syngas. The syngas later can be converted into valuable chemicals including liquid transportation fuel, methanol, synthetic natural gas (SNG), and dimethyl ether (DME). Chemical production through coal gasification could help deal with environmental challenges and renewable energy development. In recent years, syngas and subsequently chemical production through coal gasification has gained much attention. However, limited attention has been paid to the modeling and optimization of the gasification process utilizing high-ash low-rank Indian coal for syngas production with an envisioned application for liquid transportation fuel production. Also, a detailed modeling, optimization, environmental, and economic analysis of Indian coal to methanol is missing in the available literature. Further, very scarce studies report detailed modeling and analysis of the poly-generation system for producing methanol, steam, and power from Indian coal and biomass. The detailed thermodynamic analysis of CO2-based dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis routes could be an essential study to predict the equilibrium condition of the DMC synthesis system utilizing methanol, CO2, and other intermediates such as urea, ethylene carbonate (EC), and propylene carbonate (PC).