Method and System for Flexible Production of Hydrogen and Hydrocarbons From Product Gas

Patent Abstract

It is desirable to design a plant such that it is flexible with respect to the product spectrum and to flexible integration of hydrogen as fuel besides biomass, while minimizing the capital costs by e.g. multipurpose reactors. Even on the feedstock side, some flexibility could be useful, i.e. using besides hydrogen also CO2 as feed for the production of storable energy carriers, e.g. hydrocarbons, while using the stored energy carrier at least as partial feedstock in times when hydrogen production is desired.This objective is achieved according to the present invention by a method/system for producing hydrogen and/or methanol, comprising :a) thermochemically converting in terms of gasification and/or pyrolysis a carbonaceous feedstock from biomass or wastes yielding a product gas that comprises at least CO, H2 and optionally unsaturated hydrocarbons, such as ethylene, acetylene, benzene;b) optionally providing a gas cleaning section to remove catalyst poisons, e.g. Sulphur species, from the product gas;c) bringing the product gas into a fluidized bed reactor and reacting the product gas in the presence of a catalyst and/or a sorbent based on e.g. copper, molybdenum and/or iron that supports the conversion of CO and H2O to hydrogen and CO2 or to methanol depending on the operation conditions that are controllable in terms of the catalyst and/or sorbents used and/or the pressure and/or the temperature and/or the heat exchange in the fluidized bed reactor;d) guiding the reacted product gas to an upgrading section that comprises a particle filter, an optional condensation step and at least one separation unit, such as a membrane, a scrubber, an absorption, a pressure swing adsorption or a temperature swing adsorption, a chemisorption, a liquefaction or combinations thereof, thereby separating a hydrogenrich stream or a methanol-rich stream from the effluent of the fluidized bed reactor.This method and this system thus allow to use one single fluidized bed reactor to flexibly decide for the production of hydrogen or methanol thereby enabling a production that for example is enabled to reflect the availability of green hydrogen and/or renewable energy.

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes a flexible method and system for producing hydrogen and/or methanol using a single fluidized bed reactor. Carbon-rich feedstocks such as biomass or waste are gasified or pyrolyzed to produce a gas mixture that is then catalytically converted in the reactor. By adjusting the operating conditions (such as temperature, pressure, type of catalyst, or addition of reactants), the system can switch between producing hydrogen, methanol, or even methane. The system also allows recovery of carbon dioxide for potential sequestration and can adapt to varying market and energy needs, including integration with renewable energy sources and external hydrogen.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Decentralized production of hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles or industrial processes.
• On-demand methanol production for use as a chemical feedstock or energy carrier.
• Flexible energy plants that adjust outputs based on renewable energy availability or market demand.
• Integration into waste-to-energy facilities to valorize municipal or plastic waste streams.
• Production of synthetic natural gas (methane) for grid injection or liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply.
• CO2 capture and utilization or sequestration to support negative emission strategies.
• Combined heat and power (CHP) plants for industrial or district heating applications.
• Balancing of seasonal and daily energy supply/demand fluctuations in energy systems.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• High flexibility—the same reactor can switch between producing hydrogen, methanol, or methane with minimal changes.
• Reduces capital and operational costs by using multipurpose equipment instead of dedicated lines for each product.
• Supports use of diverse feedstocks (biomass, various waste types, hydrogen, CO2), enhancing resource circularity and resilience.
• Integrates with renewable energy (e.g., using external green hydrogen when abundant), enabling energy system balancing.
• Enables CO2 capture and potential negative emissions, aiding decarbonization objectives.
• Simplifies process complexity—internal regeneration of catalyst in the fluidized bed limits coke and carbon deposition, allowing direct use of impure feed gases.
• Improved energy efficiency and product yield due to isothermal reactor conditions and enhanced heat integration.
• Facilitates distributed and modular design of energy plants, suitable for local or small/medium-scale operations.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants