What does a gasifier do?

Gasification is a process that converts organic or fossil-based carbonaceous materials at high temperatures (>700°C), without combustion, with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam into carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide.

How are gasifier classified?

Gasifier equipment is generally classified as upward draft, downward draft and cross draft gasifiers, based on the direction of air/oxygen flow in the equipment. Gasification processes can be categorized into three groups: entrained flow, fluidised bed and moving bed (sometimes called, somewhat erroneously, fixed bed).

What can be gasified?

Gasification is a technological process that can convert any carbonaceous (carbon-based) raw material such as coal into fuel gas, also known as synthesis gas (syngas for short).

Is syngas cleaner than natural gas?

Finally, from an environmental perspective, the CO2 emissions from SNG production are much higher than conventional natural gas, and even worse than burning coal for power directly. In effect, SNG is trading off global CO2 emissions and local water consumption for cleaner air in China’s biggest cities.

What gas does a gasifier make?

2.2. Air-based gasifiers typically produce a product gas containing a relatively high concentration of nitrogen with a low heating value. Oxygen and steam-based gasifiers produce a product gas containing a relatively high concentration of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, with a higher heating value [17].

What is a GE gasifier?

Formerly known as ChevronTexaco and/or Texaco gasifiers (GE Energy acquired the technology in 2004), GE gasifiers have operated commercially for over 45 years using a wide variety of feedstocks such as natural gas, heavy oil, coal and petcoke . The coal gasification process was developed by extending experience with gas and oil gasification.

What is the fuel flexibility of a gasifier?

The fuel flexibility of the gasifier allows for gasifying less expensive fuels, including all ranks of coal, petroleum coke, biomass, and industrial wastes, fed either individually or in combination. Gasifier fuel flexibility allows industry to adapt to the rise and fall of fuel costs, in order to maintain a cost effective operation.

How many GE gasifiers are currently in operation?

In addition, GE Energy continues to conduct gasification research and development (R&D) work at their various technology centers throughout the world. There are over 60 commercial plants currently in operation, making GE gasifiers one of the most widely used gasification technologies.

What is the BTU value of the gas produced by an gasifier?

Gasifiers are efficient energy converters yielding 70% of the energy in waste fuel as cold gas. The gas produced has a Btu value of around 150 Btu/scf (standard cubic foot). In metric about 6MJ/m3. Gas composition varies according to the operation and type as can be seen below. Chunbao (Charles) Xu,